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CAPT.   WILLIAM    N.    McDONALD 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 
LAUREL  BRIGADE 


ORIGINALLY 


THE  ASHBY  CAVALRY 

OF    THE 

ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA 

AND 

CHEW'S  BATTERY 


BY  THE  LATE 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  N.  MCDONALD 

Ordnance  Officer  of  the  Brigade 
EDITED  BY 

BUSHROD  C.  WASHINGTON 


Published  by 

MRS.  KATE  S.  McDONALD 
1907 


.'4- 


COPYRIGHT.  1907. 

BY 
MRS.  KATE  S.  McDONALD 


ILLUSTRATED.  PRINTED  AND  BOUND 

BY  THE 

SUN  JOB  PRINTING  OFFICE, 
BALTIMORE 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I  ^£c^<?i 
Development  of  the  Laurel  Brigade  from  the  Seventh  Regiment  of 
Virginia  Cavalry,  enlisted  under  Col.  Angus  W.  McDonald — 
Border  service  under  Colonel  McDonald  and  Col.  Turner 
Ashby — Heroic  death  of  Capt.  Richard  Ashby — Destructive 
expedition  against  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  and 
Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal — Chew's  Battery  attached  to  the 
command — Romney  winter  campaign  under  Jackson — Battle  of 
Kernstown  17 

CHAPTER  II  /7£a^t  c^-  /^**° 

Daily  skirmishes  with  force  of  Banks — Addition  of  new  companies 
and  recruits  swell  the  brigade — Jackson  orders  it  divided  into 
two  commands,  and  Ashby  tenders  his  resignation — Jackson 
revokes  the  order  and  Ashby  withdraws  his  resignation — Jack 
son  marches  to  McDowell  and  defeats  Fremont — Ashby  screens 
the  movement  from  Banks  by  constant  skirmishing  in  his  front 
— Destroys  railroad  and  telegraph  between  Front  Royal  and 
Strasburg — Attack  upon  Federal  infantry  at  Buckton,  where 
Captains  Sheetz  and  Fletcher  fall — Battle  of  Winchester  and 
pursuit  of  Banks — Ashby  throws  his  cavalry  between  the  con 
verging  armies  of  Shields  and  Fremont  and  prevents  communi 
cation  between  them — Informs  Jackson  fully  of  their  move 
ments Capture  of  Sir  Percy  Wyndham — Death  of  Ashby — 

Cross  Keys  and  Port  Republic 48 

CHAPTER  III 

Jackson  marches  from  Brown's  Gap  to  the  Chickahominy — His 
ingenious  ruses  to  deceive  Shields  and  Fremont — Munford 
screens  Jackson's  movement  and  follows  him  with  the  Second 
Virginia  Cavalry — Genl.  Beverly  Robertson  succeeds  in  com 
mand  of  Valley  cavalry — Reorganization  of  the  Ashby  cavalry 
— Robertson  an  organizer  and  diciplinarian — Brigade  leaves 


M137958 


CONTENTS 

Valley  and  joins  Jackson  near  Richmond,  July  loth,  Company 
B  of  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry  being  left  in  the  Valley  —  Fight 
ing  at  Gordonsville  and  Cedar  Run  —  Genl.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  leads 
cavalry  in  a  reconnoissance  —  Brandy  Station  —  Catlett's  Station 

—  Thoroughfare  Gap  —  Sudley  Road  fight  and  death  of  Major 
Patrick  —  Second  Manassas  campaign  —  Advance  into  Maryland 

—  Robertson  assigned  to   Department  of  North  Carolina,   and 
Munford  again  commands  the  brigade  —  Poolesville  and  Cramp- 
ton's  Gap  —  Affair  at  Darksville  —  Capture  of  Harper's  Ferry  — 
Brigade     covers     Lee's     recrossing     of     Potomac  —  Raid     into 
Pennsylvania  —  Col.  William  E.  Jones  takes  command  —  Various 
skirmishes  in  the  Valley  —  White's  Battalion  attached  to  brigade 

—  Snickers    Gap   and    Castleman's    Ferry  —  Company   D   of   the 
Eleventh  at  Romney,  and  capture  of  Capt.  E.  H.  McDonald  — 
General  Jones  in  command  of  the  Valley  District  —  Expedition 
to  Moorefield  —  Scarcity  of  forage  —  Midwinter  diversions  in  the 
Valley   ......................................................     72 


CHAPTER  IV     7 

Jones'  expedition  into  Western  Virginia  —  Weak  men  and  horses 
left  in  camp  —  Inclement  weather  and  swollen  streams  —  Danger 
ous  crossing  of  the  Potomac  at  Petersburg  —  Heroic  assistance 
of  citizens  —  Rev.  Richard  Davis  —  Fight  at  Greenland  Gap  — 
McNeil's  Rangers  co-operate  with  Jones  —  Colonel  Harman 
enters  Oakland,  destroys  railroad  bridge  —  Cranberry  Summit  — 
Mountaineers  unfriendly  and  bushwhack  our  column  —  Capture 
of  Morgantown  —  Bridgeport  and  Fairmont  —  Destruction  of  oil 
wells  —  A  river  on  fire  —  Return  to  the  Valley  —  Results  of 
expedition  —  Cross  the  Blue  Ridge  to  join  "Jeb"  Stuart  —  A 
grand  review  —  Battle  of  Brandy  Station  ......................  117 


CHAPTER  V 

A  short  rest  —  The  army  of  Northern  Virginia  moves  northward  — 
Jones'  brigade  guards  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock  —  Federal 
cavalry  in  search  of  Lee  make  for  the  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
—  Aldie  and  Middleburg  —  Fight  at  Upperville  —  Stuart  makes 
famous  raid  in  rear  of  Federal  Army  —  Jones'  and  Robertson's 
brigades  left  to  defend  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge  —  Operations  of 
White's  Battalion  —  In  Maryland  —  Sixth  Virginia  meets  Sixth 
United  States  Regulars  near  Fairfield  and  defeats  the  latter  — 
Joy  of  victory  turned  to  sadness  by  news  of  Lee's  failure  at 
Cemetery  Ridge  —  Jones  and  Robertson  hold  the  passes  of  Jack 


CONTENTS  5 

Mountain  —  Jones  saves  Ewell's  wagon  train  —  Buford  and  Kil- 
patrick  thwarted  —  Fighting  between  Hagerstown  and  Williams- 
port  —  Gallant  charge  of  the  Eleventh  Virginia  Cavalry  —  Funks- 
town  and  Boonesboro  —  Williamsport  relieved  and  Lee's  wagon 
train  saved  —  The  Seventh  Virginia  retaliates  upon  Sixth  Regu 
lars  —  Artillery  practice  upon  a  flying  target  —  Lee  recrosses  the 
Potomac  —  The  brigade  ordered  south  of  the  Potomac  to  cover 
Lee's  communications  with  Winchester  —  The  Twelfth,  under 
Colonel  Harman,  on  detached  service  near  Harper's  Ferry  — 
Capture  of  Federal  picket  reserves  —  Colonel  Harman  falls  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy  —  Brigade  encamps  near  Charles  Town 
and  engages  in  reconnoitering  and  skirmishes  —  Lee  retires  up 
the  Valley  and  crossing  the  mountains  resumes  the  line  of  the 
Rappahannock  ..............................................  147 


CHAPTER  VI       ^ 

Brigade  returns  to  watch  the  fords  of  the  Rappahannock  —  Differ 
ences  between  General  Stuart  and  General  Jones  —  The  latter 
court-martialed  and  removed  to  another  field  of  operations  — 
Personality  of  Jones  and  attachment  of  his  troopers  —  Admira 
tion  and  loyalty  of  the  men  soon  won  by  "Jeb"  Stuart  —  Federals 
under  Meade  advance  towards  Culpeper  Court  House  —  Hard 
and  continuous  cavalry  fighting  against  Buford  and  Kilpatrick, 
in  which  the  brigade  now  under  command  of  General  Lomax 
takes  prominent  part  —  Capt.  Samuel  B.  Coyner  of  the  Seventh 
Virginia  Cavalry  killed  —  Enemy  surround  and  capture  one  of 
Thompson's  guns  of  Chew's  Battery  —  A  front  and  rear  fight  at 
Jack's  Shop  —  Successful  charge  against  infantry  by  Company 
B  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia  —  Second  battle  at  Brandy  Station  — 
Fight  at  Fauquier  Surphur  Springs  —  Notable  exploit  at  the 
Rappahannock  bridge  —  Stuart  in  a  tight  place  at  Auburn  — 
Bold  dash  and  escape  of  his  command  ........................  167 


CHAPTER  VII 

A  new  commander  —  Sketch  of  Thomas  L.  Rosser  —  The  Buckland 
races  —  Camp  at  Flint  Hill  —  At  Hamilton's  Crossing  —  Night 
surprise  of  a  Federal  camp  —  Dash  upon  Meade's  wagon  trains 
in  the  Wilderness  —  Back  to  Hamilton's  Crossing  —  Hard  fight  at 
Parker's  Store  —  Watching  Meade  —  Raid  around  Meade's  army 
—  Night  attack  upon  Sangster's  Station  and  death  of  Captain 
Cartmell  —  Brigade  heads  for  the  Valley  and  crosses  the  Shenan- 
doah  —  Joins  the  force  of  Early  at  Mt.  Jackson  —  A  Merry 
Christmas  in  the  Valley  .....................................  196 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Rosser  with  Fitz  Lee  —  They  make  midwinter  raid  to  capture  cattle 
for  Lee's  army  —  March  down  the  Patterson  Creek  Valley  — 
Capture  a  Federal  wagon  train  —  Move  towards  New  Creek  — 
Return  to  Early  in  the  Valley  —  Fitz  Lee  with  his  division 
returns  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  —  Early  and  Rosser 
make  the  Petersburg  raid  —  Returning,  the  Laurel  Brigade 
camps  at  Weyer's  Cave  —  Rest  and  hilarity  —  Across  the  Blue 
Ridge  to  catch  Kilpatrick  —  Return  to  Valley  —  The  camp  in 
Rockbridge  county  —  Recruiting  —  Grant  moves  his  multitudes  — 
A  call  from  Lee  —  The  Laurel  joins  Lee  in  the  Wilderness  — 
The  5th  and  6th  of  May  —  Join  Hampton  at  Shady  Grove  —  Yel 
low  Tavern  —  Death  of  Stuart  ................................  215 


CHAPTER  IX 

Hampton  takes  command  of  cavalry  —  Milford  —  Haw's  Shop  — 
Atlee's  Station  —  Depleted  condition  of  brigade  —  Scarcity  of 
food  and  forage  —  Grant  develops  his  wearing  out  policy  — 
Assails  Lee's  lines  of  communication  —  Wilson  attempts  to  cut 
the  Virginia  Central  Railroad  —  Fight  at  Ashland  —  Heroic  act 
of  Maj.  Holmes  Conrad  —  Wilson  defeated  and  pursued  — 
Another  affair  at  Haw's  Shop  —  White's  Comanches  charge 
Federal  breastworks  —  Hampton  sent  to  meet  Sheridan's 
raiders  —  The  battle  of  Trevilians  —  Pursues  Sheridan  to  the 
North  Anna  —  Hard  fare  for  men  and  horses  —  Some  types  of 
vandals  —  Skirmishing  near  White  House  —  Cavalry  against  in 
fantry  and  gunboats  —  Hanging  on  Sheridan's  flank  —  White's 
Battalion  detached  —  Sheridan  entrenches  at  Samaria  Church  — 
Is  driven  out  of  entrenchments,  leaving  dead  and  wounded  — 
Col.  Thomas  E.  Massie  of  the  Twelfth  wounded  —  Pursuit  of 
Sheridan  to  Charles  City  Court  House  .......................  242 

CHAPTER  X  £L^-»-T_^_-     /  ir  < 

Hampton  marches  towards  Richmond  —  Federals  cross  to  south  side 
of  James  River,  and  Hampton  follows,  crossing  near  Drury's 
Bluff  —  Moves  below  Petersburg  —  Camp  near  Reams  Station  — 
Intercepts  Wilson's  raiders,  and  sharp  fight  near  Sapony 
Church  —  Lieutenant  Vandiver's  account  of  the  engagement  — 
Ruffian  marauders  —  Wilson  escapes  after  punishment  and  loss 
—  A  short  rest,  watermelons  and  hospitality  —  Brigade  recuper 
ates  by  return  of  men  from  hospitals  and  horse  furloughs  — 
Fitz  Lee  with  his  division  sent  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley  — 


CONTENTS  7 

Hampton  kept  to  hold  the  lines  on  Lee's  right  —  Grant  creates 
a  diversion  on  the  north  side  of  the  James  —  Hampton  ordered 
to  Culpeper,  but  was  recalled  when  he  reached  Beaver  Dam  — 
Fight  at  White  Oak  Swamp  —  Brigade  returns  to  south  side  — 
Monk  Neck's  Bridge  —  Hatcher's  Run  —  Reams  Station  —  The 
newspaper  raid  —  Hampton's  cattle  raid  .......................  262 


CHAPTER  XI 

The  return  to  the  Valley  —  Tedious  march  and  wornout  horses  — 
Eager  to  avenge  the  outrages  of  Sheridan  —  Federals  devastate 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  —  Fitz  Lee  having  been  wounded,  Rosser 
commands  the  Cavalry  Division  —  Fight  at  Mill  Creek  —  Toms 
Brook  —  A  much-mooted  night  attempt  to  surprise  and  bag 
Custer  —  Cedar  Creek  —  Brent's  Farm  —  Fighting  on  the  Back 
Road  —  Death  of  Lieut.-Col.  Thomas  Marshall  —  Brigade  camps 
and  rest  at  Fisher's  Hill  and  Timberville  —  Kershaw's  division 
and  Crosby's  brigade  of  cavalry  withdrawn  from  Early's  army  — 
Sheridan  with  superior  numbers  hesitates  to  attack  Early  ......  299 


CHAPTER  XII 

Difficulty  of  supplying  subsistence  for  Early's  army  —  Plenty  beyond 
the  mountains  westward  —  Rosser  starts  out  for  New  Creek 
with  the  Laurels  and  Payne's  brigade  —  New  Creek  a  Federal 
stronghold  —  Rosser  joined  by  McNeil's  Partisan  Rangers  — 
McNeil  defeats  Federals  at  Parsons  Ford  —  Some  unexpected 
happenings  —  A  council  of  war  —  Rosser  decides  —  The  surprise 
—  A  successful  ruse  —  Capture  of  New  Creek  —  Homeward 
bound  with  captures,  flocks,  and  herds  —  Brigade  camps  near 
Timberville  —  Moves  to  near  Swopes  Depot  —  Custer  with  large 
cavalry  force  threatens  Staunton  —  Rosser  and  Payne  make 
night  attack  on  Custer's  camp  —  Back  to  old  camp  at  Swopes 
Depot  —  Lack  of  forage  —  Companies  detached  in  order  to  sub 
sist  —  Beverly  ...............................................  321 

CHAPTER  XIII  <^f  /*  *  67 

The  capture  of  the  Federal  Major-Generals  Crook  and  Kelly,  in 
the  City  of  Cumberland  by  McNeil  —  The  capture  proposed  and 
planned  by  John  B.  Fay,  formerly  of  Company  F,  Seventh  Vir 
ginia  Cavalry,  but  at  the  time  a  member  of  McNeil's  partisan 
company  —  Fay  with  Ritchie  Hallar  reconnoiters  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Cumberland  —  They  locate  the  sleeping  apartments 


CONTENTS 

of  each  of  the  generals,  and  the  outpost  and  reserve  pickets  — 
The  hazards  of  the  undertaking  —  The  surprise  and  capture  — 
Two  future  Presidents  of  the  United  States  narrowly  escape  — 
A  future  judge  not  so  fortunate  —  Federals  pursue  but  give  it 
up  —  Prisoners  transported  to  Dixie  ...........................  341 


CHAPTER  XIV 

After  the  return  from  Beverly,  Munford's  and  Payne's  brigades 
ordered  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  —  Wharton's  division  of  infantry 
and  Rosser's  brigade  of  cavalry  only  force  left  under  Early  in 
the  Valley  to  face  Sheridan  —  Government  supplies  almost  fail, 
and  home  supplies  no  longer  cheer  the  soldiers  —  Sheridan  lays 
waste  the  Valley,  and  with  10,000  sabres  advances  —  Rosser 
meets  him  with  300  men  and,  aided  by  high  water,  retards  him 
at  North  River  —  Early  withdraws  towards  Charlottesville,  is 
overtaken,  defeated,  and  his  army  captured  or  dispersed  near 
Waynesboro  —  Rosser  attempts  to  recapture  the  prisoners,  but 
fails  —  Rosser  made  major-general  and  Dearing  takes  command 
of  the  Laurel  Brigade  —  The  trail  of  Sheridan  —  Division  under 
Rosser,  not  over  1,200  men,  moves  below  Petersburg  —  Federals 
capture  Five  Forks  —  Rosser's  division  forms  rear  guard  of  Fitz 
Lee's  column1  —  Advancing  Federals  punished  in  their  onsets  — 
Deep  Creek  —  Brigade,  April  5th,  with  rest  of  division  moves 
towards  Amelia  Court  House  —  Soldiers  depressed  but  reso 
lute  —  Desperate  charge  of  Dearing  near  Amelia  Springs  — 
Desperate  fighting  by  great  fighters  —  Federals  driven  back 
into  Jetersville  —  Death  of  Captains  Rutherford  and  Hugh  Mc- 
Guire  —  High  Bridge  —  Death  of  Dearing,  Knott,  Thompson  and 
others  and  the  wounding  of  many  —  White  takes  command  of 
brigade  —  Appomattox  —  The  last  charge  —  Brigade  disbanded 
near  Lynchburg  by  Colonel  "Lige"  White  —  Remnant  of  the 
Twelfth  Regiment,  under  Lieut.  Wm.  F.  Anderson,  surrenders 
at  Appomattox  ..............................................  357 

APPENDIX  .......................................................  382 


PREFACE 


This  history  was  written  by  the  late  Capt.  William  N. 
McDonald,  who  was  ordnance  officer  of  the  Laurel  Bri 
gade.  It  was  written  at  the  request  of  Genl.  Thomas  L. 
Rosser,  its  one  time  commander,  who  gave  to  the  brigade 
the  name  "Laurel,"  and  who  by  his  courage,  dash,  and  skill, 
in  great  degree  contributed  to  win  the  fame  which  made  it 
worthy  to  be  known  by  that  name. 

The  labor  of  Captain  McDonald  in  accumulating  the 
data  and  writing  this  history,  extended  through  the  ten 
years  previous  to  his  lamented  death  on  the  4th  of  January, 
1898.  And  some  idea  of  the  amount  and  difficulty  of  the 
labor  undertaken  may  be  gathered  from  his  own  words, 
below  quoted,  from  a  circular  letter  sent  to  the  survivors  of 
the  brigade,  in  his  quest  for  information:  "This  work  was 
entered  upon  with  the  settled  purpose  of  making  it  an 
authentic  memorial  of  those  who  composed  the  Laurel 
Brigade,  but  with  little  expectation  that  the  story  of  the 
achievements  of  the  command  would  equal  its  measure  of 
fame.  The  facts  necessary  to  make  up  the  record  are  diffi 
cult  to  procure.  The  official  reports  rarely  give  details,  and 
after  February  ist,  1864,  few  if  any  brigade  or  regimental 
reports  are  to  be  found.  From  that  time,  to  the  end,  there 
was  such  a  giving  and  taking  of  blows, — such  a  struggle 
for  the  means  of  subsistence, — that  little  time  was  left  for 
clerical  work.  There  is  therefore  a  gap  of  more  than  a 


10  PREFACE 

year  full  of  stirring  events,  with  small  record  of  even  the 
general  actions  of  the  brigade." 

It  was  from  the  mass  of  letters  received  in  response  to  his 
circular,  Captain  McDonald  chiefly  gathered  the  material 
for  the  history.  While  many  of  these  were  clear  and 
explicit,  many  were  contradictory  of  others,  and  to  gather 
the  actual  facts  out  of  multitudes  of  contradictions,  was  a 
labor  easier  to  be  imagined  than  described.  While  the  body 
of  the  history  was  practically  complete,  the  manuscript  was 
in  its  first  form  and  not  yet  ready  for  publication  when  it 
came  into  my  hands.  At  the  request  of  a  committee  of  the 
survivors  of  the  brigade,  I  undertook  the  ivork  of  reviewing 
the  manuscript  and  preparing  it  for  the  hands  of  a  publisher. 

In  the  posthumous  preparation  of  an  author's  work,  there 
is  always  the  temptation  to  the  reviser,  to  materially  alter  it 
in  some  particular,  and  here  and  there  to  interject  some 
thing  suggestive  of  himself.  Had  the  disposition  to  do 
this  possessed  me,  there  would  hardly  have  been  the  oppor 
tunity,  for  the  manuscript  as  I  received  it,  practically 
covered  the  achievements  of  the  brigade  from  Kernstown 
to  Appomattox.  My  work,  was  rather  to  supply  such 
missing  links  in  the  narrative  as  were  to  be  found  here  and 
there;  to  make  such  corrections  as  subsequent  revelations 
made  necessary,  and  such  additions  in  the  way  of  official 
reports,  and  well-authenticated  individual  statements,  as 
would  add  authority  and  verification  to  the  history.  Besides 
this,  there  was  also  such  a  general  revision  of  the  manu 
script,  as  the  author  himself  would  have  given  before 
placing  it  in  the  hands  of  a  publisher. 

Captain  McDonald  having  been  my  personal  friend  as 
well  as  a  close  comrade  both  in  the  infantry  and  cavalry 


PREFACE  1 1 

arms  of  the  Confederate  service,  the  labor  of  revising  his 
work,  has  been  mingled  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure,  and 
I  have  endeavored  to  discharge  the  duty  in  a  way  that 
would  have  been  gratifying  to  him. 

It  is  impossible  but  that  there  will  be  some  omissions, 
both  regarding  events,  and  individuals  worthy  of  mention, 
and  perhaps  a  few  incidents  mentioned  not  exactly  in  accord 
with  the  recollections  of  some.  The  lapse  of  time  before 
undertaking  the  work,  the  lack  of  sources  of  information, 
and  the  fallibility  of  memory  must  be  sufficient  excuse  for 
these.  The  intention  of  the  author  was  to  produce  an 
authentic  record,  free  from  exaggeration  and  also  from 
mere  rhetorical  display.  It  wras  his  intention  also  to  append 
as  complete  a  roster  of  the  officers  and  men  as  could  possibly 
be  procured.  No  effort  has  been  spared  to  carry  out  this 
intention.  Nevertheless  the  rolls  of  some  companies  are 
entirely  missing  and  others  incomplete,  which  is  greatly  to 
be  regretted. 

It  has  been  the  wish  that  every  soldier  who  served  in  the 
brigade  and  helped  to  contribute  to  its  fame,  should  have 
honorable  mention.  Unfortunately,  the  missing  names  are 
likely  to  be  those  of  the  killed  or  mortally  wounded  in  battle 
and  dropped  from  the  rolls,  who  of  all  others,  if  possible, 
should  be  especially  remembered. 

To  the  comrades  who  by  letters,  loan  of  private  diaries, 
and  in  other  ways  assisted  the  author  and  the  reviser  in 
preparing  this  history,  whose  names  are  too  numerous  to 
mention  here,  sincere  thanks  are  given.  Most  of  them, 
however,  are  mentioned  in  the  body  of  the  work. 

It  was  at  first  the  intention,  that  there  should  be  an 
addendum  to  the  work  containing  special  mention  of  officers 


12  PREFACE 

and  privates  who  rendered  conspicuous  and  meritorious 
services.  But  after  mature  consideration  this  was  con 
sidered  unadvisable  and  the  intention  abandoned,  for  the 
reason  that  the  Laurel  Brigade  was  composed  of  so  many 
heroic  men}  that  to  single  out  a  few  for  special  mention, 
would  seem  in  the  nature  of  an  invidious  distinction. 

BUSHROD  C.  WASHINGTON. 


THE  AUTHOR 


The  late  Capt.  William  N.  McDonald,  author  of  this  work, 
was  born  in  1834  in  Romney,  Virginia;  was  educated  in  his 
native  State,  taking  the  degree  of  A.  M.  at  the  University  of 
Virginia  in  1857,  and  was  elected  professor  of  belles-lettres  in 
the  University  of  Public  Schools  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  the 
same  year;  the  following  year  he  was  promoted  to  presidency 
of  the  same,  and  in  that  capacity  was  acting  superintendent  of 
the  schools  of  Louisville. 

In  1859  he  resigned  and  studied  law,  and  in  1860  went  to 
Europe  as  secretary  to  his  father,  Col.  Angus  W .  McDonald, 
commissioner  of  Virginia,  to  report  upon  the  Maryland  and 
Virginia  boundary  line. 

On  April  ipth,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  G, 
Second  Virginia  Regiment,  Stonewall  Brigade,  in  which  he 
served  until  after  the  reorganization  of  the  army  in  1862.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  Laurel  Brigade  and  served  as  ordnance 
officer  upon  the  staff  of  General  Rosser.  He  served  the  Con 
federacy  with  distinguished  gallantry  during  the  entire  war 
from  the  day  Virginia  seceded  to  Appornattox.  At  the  time  of 
the  surrender  he  was  chief  of  ordnance  of  Mahone's  division  of 
Lee's  army,  with  the  rank  of  captain  of  artillery. 

In  1865  he  established  the  Cool  Spring  School  in  Clarke 
county,  Virginia.  While  there  he  wrote,  in  conjunction  with 
Prof.  John  S.  Blackburn,  the  first  Southern  school  history  of 


14  THE  AUTHOR 

the  United  States.  It  was  published  at  their  own  cost,  passed 
through  about  twenty  editions,  and  still  has  a  wide  circulation. 

In  1868  he  left  Cool  Spring  to  accept  his  old  place  as  presi 
dent  of  the  University  of  Public  Schools  of  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
at  an  advance  of  nearly  double  the  previous  salary. 

In  1872  he  resigned  this  position  and  established  the  Louis 
ville  Rugby  School,  which  for  fifteen  years  was  the  largest  and 
most  flourishing  private  school  for  boys  west  of  the  Alleghanies. 
While  principal  of  the  same  he  became  editor  and  half  pro 
prietor  of  the  SOUTHERN  BIVOUAC,  which  magazine  during  his 
connection  with  it  greatly  flourished. 

In  1887  he  left  Louisville  and  established  at  Berryville,  Vir 
ginia,  the  Shenandoah  University  School,  of  which  he  was 
principal  until  his  death  on  June  4th,  1898. 


INDEX  TO  ILLUSTRATIONS 


FACES  PAGE. 

THE  AUTHOR i 

COL.  ANGUS  W.  MCDONALD 16 

GENL.  TURNER  ASHBY 32 

DR.  NELSON  G.  WEST 36 , 

REV.  JAMES  BATTLE  AVIRETT 40 

COL.  R.  PRESTON  CHEW 44 

ASHBY'S  CHARGE  AT  MIDDLETON 60 

MAJ.  WILLIAM   PATRICK 80 

GENL.  THOS.  T.  MUNFORD 88 

BRIG.-GENL.  WILLIAM  E.  JONES 104 

MAJ.  EDWARD  H.  MCDONALD 108 

OLIVER    RIDGWAY    FUNSTEN 112 

MAJ.  SAMUEL  B.  MYERS 120 

COL.  RICHARD  H.  DULANY 128 

COL.  E.  V.  WHITE 136 

GENL.  L.  L.  LOM AX 144 

COL.  ASHER  W.  HARMAN 164 

LIEUT.   B.   C.  WASHINGTON 176 

LIEUT.-COL.  THOMAS  E.   MASSIE 184 

GENL.  THOMAS  L.  ROSSER 196 

MAJ.  JOHN  W.  EMMETT 232 

GENL.  J.  E.  B.  STUART 240 

MAJ.  HOLMES  CONRAD 244 

GENL.  WADE  HAMPTON 248 

ROSSER'S  DEFEAT  OF  CUSTER  AT  TREVILIANS  STATION 252 

LIEUT.  PHILIP  B.  WINSTON 256 

MAJ.  F.  M.  MYERS 264 

CAPT.  J.  W.  CARTER 304 

LIEUT.-COL.   THOMAS   MARSHALL 320 

CAPTURE  OF  GENERALS  CROOK  AND  KELLEY 340 

COL.  M.  D.  BALL 360 

BRIG.-GENL.  JAMES   DEARING 364 

CAPT.  HUGH  H.  McGuiRE 372 

MAJ.  JOHN  LOCHER  KNOTT 374 

MAJ.  JAMES   THOMPSON 376 

MAJ.  FOXHALL  A.  DANGERFIELD 378 


McDonalds  In  Virginia. 


COL.  ANGUS  w.  MCDONALD 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 
CHAPTER  I 

June,  1861 

Development  of  the  Laurel  Brigade  from  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  Vir 
ginia  Cavalry,  enlisted  under  Col.  Angus  W.  McDonald — Border 
service  under  Colonel  McDonald  and  Col.  Turner  Ashby — Heroic 
death  of  Capt.  Richard  Ashby — Destructive  expedition  against  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  and  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal — 
Chew's  Battery  attached  to  the  command — Romney  winter  cam 
paign  under  Jackson — Battle  of  Kernstown. 

Fourteen  months  of  the  War  between  the  States  had 
passed  before  the  troops  of  Ashby  possessed  a  brigade 
organization.  Their  gallant  leader  was  dead  and  Stonewall 
Jackson  had  completed  his  brilliant  Valley  campaign.  The 
Federal  armies  that  had  gathered  from  three  quarters  of 
the  compass  for  the  purpose  of  annihilating  the  army  of 
"Stonewall"  were  now  in  full  retreat;  and  the  opportune 
moment  was  availed  of  to  put  into  brigade  form  the 
twenty-six  unorganized  companies  of  border  troopers 
which  Ashby  had  commanded.  This  was  effected  at  Swift 
Run  Gap  on  the  i5th  and  i6th  of  June,  1862. 

Though  it  is  purposed  to  confine  this  narrative,  mainly 
to  events  that  happened  subsequent  to  this  date,  it  is  deemed 
not  only  proper  but  necessary,  first  to  give  a  brief  account 
of  what  was  done  by  the  Ashby  cavalry  prior  to  its  brigade 
formation. 

In  the  official  reports,  this  body  of  troops,  as  was  the  rule 
in  the  Confederate  service,  is  designated  by  the  name  of  its 


1 8  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

commanding  officer  at  the  time,  and  it  was  not  until  Genl. 
Thomas  L.  Rosser  became  its  commander  that  it  was  known 
by  any  other  name  than  by  that  of  the  brigadier  command 
ing.  Influenced,  probably,  by  admiration  of  its  prowess, 
pride  of  commandership,  and  a  laudable  desire  to  increase 
its  esprit  du  corps,  Rosser  named  it  the  Laurel  Brigade. 
Subsequently  this  name  was  occasionally  recognized  by  the 
division  commanders  when  they  meant  to  compliment  the 
command  for  gallant  conduct;  but  by  members  of  other 
brigades,  especially  in  the  cavalry,  the  name  was  not  used, 
its  assumption  being  regarded  by  many  as  a  piece  of 
arrogance. 

To  what  extent  the  name  was  deserved  history  must 
determine ;  but  the  fact  that  it  is  the  only  name  which  iden 
tifies  and  generally  describes  a  certain  body  of  Confederate 
troops,  sufficiently  justifies  the  use  of  it  in  these  pages  for 
the  sake  of  clearness  and  brevity. 

The  Laurel  Brigade  was  certainly  unique  in  one  respect. 
It  was  a  growth  and  not  an  artificial  formation.  Brigades, 
as  a  rule,  were  the  result  of  an  arbitrary  combination  of 
different  bodies  of  troops  into  a  single  group  by  the  com 
manding  general  of  the  army.  The  Laurel  Brigade  had 
for  its  nucleus  a  few  companies  which  developed  into  a 
regiment,  and  then  into  a  command  of  brigade  proportions. 
The  added  strength  that  constituted  the  development  came 
from  new  companies  that  voluntarily  joined,  or  from  the 
old  companies  whose  ranks  overflowing  furnished  the 
material  for  other  new  companies.  The  original  nucleus, 
from  which  by  natural  accretions  sprung  the  Laurel  Brigade, 
by  happy  coincidence,  was  Ashby's  old  company. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  19 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  Col.  Angus  W.  McDon 
ald,1  repairing  to  Harper's  Ferry,  offered  his  services 
in  defense  of  his  State  and  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  to 
General  Harper,  the  commanding  officer.  Although  then 
sixty-two  years  of  age,  Colonel  McDonald  being  a  West 
Point  graduate,  and  having  served  in  the  army  of  the 
United  States,  earnestly  desired  to  do  what  he  could  for 
the  South.  General  Harper  accepted  his  offer  and  com 
mitted  to  him  the  important  duty  of  guarding  the  bridges 
and  fords  along  the  Potomac. 

The  troops  assigned  to  him  for  this  purpose  was  a  com 
pany  of  cavalry  commanded  by  Capt.  Turner  Ashby,  from 
Fauquier  county,  Virginia.  Dividing  it  into  small  detach 
ments,  he  organized  parties  who  scouted  along  the  border, 
and  sometimes  disguised  as  citizens,  actually  entered 
Washington  City. 

This  service  was  exacting  but  attractive  on  account  of 
its  comparative  freedom  from  restraint,  and  the  oppor 
tunities  it  afforded  for  personal  adventure. 


1Col.  Angus  W.  McDonald,  born  in  1799,  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  was 
over  sixty  years  old  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  and  just 
returned  to  his  home  from  London,  whither  he  had  gone  as  Commis 
sioner  of  Virginia  for  information  relative  to  the  settlement  of  the 
disputed  boundary  between  Maryland  and  Virginia.  A  graduate  of 
West  Point  in  the  artillery  corps,  he  was  assigned  by  Gen.  Kenton 
Harper,  in  command  at  Harper's  Ferry,  to  the  duty  of  guarding  the 
fords  and  bridges  of  the  Potomac  below  that  point. 

Among  the  troops  assigned  to  him  was  the  cavalry  company  of  Capt. 
Turner  Ashby,  whose  energy,  daring,  and  soldierly  traits  so  won  the 
admiration  of  Colonel  McDonald  that,  when  authorized  by  President 
Davis  to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  he  recommended  Captain  Ashby 
as  lieutenant-colonel  of  his  command.  After  a  few  months  of  active 
service,  being  compelled  by  acute  rheumatism  to  resign  his  command, 
Colonel  McDonald  was  assigned  by  General  Jackson  to  the  command 
of  the  post  at  Winchester,  and  after  its  evacuation  to  that  of  Lexing 
ton,  Virginia.  Upon  the  approach  of  the  Federal  army  under  General 


2O  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Encouraged  by  applications  for  enlistment  in  his  com 
mand,  from  new  companies,  Colonel  McDonald  asked  and 
obtained  from  the  Confederate  Government,  permission  to 
raise  an  independent  regiment  for  border  service. 

Upon  his  recommendation  and  probably  with  Ashby's 
knowledge  and  consent,  the  latter  was  commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  Dr.  Oliver  Funsten  major  of  the 
new  command,  that  was  soon  afterwards  known  as  the 
Seventh  Regiment  of  Virginia  Cavalry. 

The  necessary  complement  of  companies  was  gradually 
obtained,  and  by  the  assiduous  efforts  of  Colonel  McDonald, 
the  regiment  was  soon  armed  and  equipped. 

The  organization  of  the  Seventh  was  consummated  on 
the  1 7th  of  June,  1861. 

Because  of  the  distinguished  services  rendered  by  this 
regiment  before  it  was  incorporated  into  the  Laurel  Bri 
gade,  a  roll  of  the  original  regimental  officers  and  company 
commanders  is  worthy  of  the  special  place  here  given  to  it. 


Hunter,  having  no  troops  for  its  defense,  he  retreated  with  his  son 
Harry,  aged  sixteen,  to  what  he  supposed  a  place  of  safety  near  Buck- 
hannon,  where  they  were  captured  after  a  gallant  resistance,  in  which 
Colonel  McDonald  was  wounded. 

He  was  treated  in  the  most  inhuman  manner  by  General  Hunter  and 
his  officers,  and  compelled  to  ride  in  an  ammunition  wagon  without 
springs  from  Lynchburg  to  Charleston;  afterwards  confined  in  the 
Atheneam  Prison  at  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  handcuffed  like  a  com 
mon  felon.  While  there  he  received  great  kindness  from  the  Sisters 
of  Charity,  and  the  picture  here  inserted  is  a  copy  of  one  he  had  taken 
for  them — the  basket  in  his  hand  showing  their  last  gift  to  him  as  he 
was  leaving  to  be  exchanged. 

Arriving  in  Richmond  November  7th,  1864,  he  rapidly  declined  from 
the  effects  of  his  ill  treatment,  and  died  December  1st.  He  was  laid 
to  rest  in  Hollywood  with  a  son,  Capt.  C.  W.  McDonald,  who  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor.  His  only  brother,  Col.  E.  C.  McDonald, 
died  in  the  Confederate  service,  and  six  sons  enlisted  in  the  army,  two 
of  whom  were  severely  wounded  and  in  prison  during  the  war 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  21 

REGIMENTAL  OFFICERS. 

Angus  W.  McDonald  of  Winchester,  Va Colonel. 

Turner  Ashby  of  Fauquier  Co.,  Va Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Oliver  M.  Funsten  of  Warren  Co.,  Va Major. 

Angus  W.  McDonald,  Jr.,  of  Hampshire  Co.,  Va Adjutant. 

Dr.  A.  P.  Burns, ,  Surgeon. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Avirett  of  Frederick  Co.,  Va Chaplain. 

Capt.  T.  P.  Pendleton  of  Clarke  Co.,  Va.,  Asst.  Quartermaster. 
Capt.  John  D.  Richardson  of  Clarke  Co.,  Va Commissary. 

CAPTAINS  OF  COMPANIES. 

Richard  Ashby  of  Fauquier  Co.,  Va Company  A. 

J.  Q.  Wingfield  of  Rockingham,  Va Company  B. 

S.  D.  Myers  of  Shenandoah  Co.,  Va Company  C. 

Macon  Jorden  of  Page  Co.,  Va Company  D. 

Walter  Bowen  of  Warren  Co.,  Va Company  E. 

George  F.  Sheetz  of  Hampshire  Co.,  Va Company  F. 

Frank  Mason  of  Maryland Company  G. 

A.  Harper  of  Shenandoah  Co.,  Va Company  H. 

Shands  of  Rockingham  Co.,  Va Company    I. 

William  Miller  of  Shenandoah  Co.,  Va Company  K. 

The  regiment  engaged  in  active  service  from  the  day  of 
its  organization. 

The  headquarters  of  the  Seventh  was  located  at  Romney, 
a  central  point  from  which  to  watch  the  Federal  movements 
in  West  Virginia,  and  to  operate  upon  the  line  of  communi 
cation  afforded  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.  The 
first  service  engaged  in  was  the  destruction  of  the  super 
structures  of  this  road.  So  thoroughly  was  the  work  done, 
that  scarcely  a  bridge,  culvert,  or  water  station  remained  on 
that  part  of  the  road  extending  from  Piedmont  to  the  Big 
Cacapon,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles. 


22  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

As  the  war  thickened,  border  duty  became  more  onerous, 
and  it  soon  devolved  upon  the  Seventh  to  guard  the  Con 
federate  frontier  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  the  head  waters 
of  the  Potomac,  a  distance  of  125  miles. 

The  Federal  authorities  had  distributed  numerous  bodies 
of  troops  along  this  border;  and  the  presence  of  these 
menaced  the  northern  frontier  with  constant  raids.  The 
Union  men  on  both  sides  of  the  line  gave  much  trouble, 
carrying  information  to  the  Federals  and  suggesting  plun 
dering  expeditions,  for  the  purpose  often,  of  gratifying 
private  malice.  Some  of  these  overzealous  "patriots"  were 
particularly  offensive,  and  their  arrest  and  removal  were 
deemed  necessary.  It  was  in  an  attempt  to  arrest  one  of 
these  that  Capt.  Richard  Ashby  was  killed.  He  was  Col. 
Turner  Ashby' s  younger  brother  and  had  succeeded  him  in 
the  command  of  his  old  company. 

Captain  Ashby  was  the  handsomest  and  most  soldierly 
figure  in  his  regiment,  being  more  robust-looking  and  more 
commanding  in  appearance  than  even  his  elder  brother. 
His  death,  especially  the  heroic  features  of  it,  made  a  pro 
found  and  lasting  impression  upon  his  comrades ;  while  the 
effect  upon  his  brother  Turner  was  transforming. 

It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  June,  that  Captain 
Ashby  was  ordered  by  his  brother  to  take  a  small  detach 
ment  of  his  company  and  arrest  a  certain  obnoxious  citizen, 
who  was  believed  to  be  a  spy.  Failing  to  find  the  man  at 
his  home,  Captain  Ashby  kept  a  path  straight  on,  leading 
towards  the  Federal  lines  which  extended  along  the  track 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.  At  a  place  suitable 
for  the  purpose,  the  Federals,  as  if  in  anticipation  of  his 
further  advance,  had  carefully  prepared  an  ambuscade.  A 
volley  from  a  neighboring  wood  was  the  first  intimation 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  23 

of  the  enemy's  presence,  and  this  was  immediately  followed 
by  the  charge  of  an  overwhelming  body  of  mounted 
Federals.  Discovering  his  disparity  of  force,  which  con 
sisted  of  only  eleven  men,  Captain  Ashby  ordered  a  retreat. 
The  retreat  soon  became  disorderly,  and  Captain  Ashby, 
who  was  some  distance  in  the  rear  of  his  retreating  com 
mand,  was  thrown  to  the  ground  by  his  horse  falling  in  an 
unsuccessful  attempt  to  leap  a  cattle-stop.  He  was  soon 
surrounded  by  the  enemy  at  close  quarters,  but  without 
thought  of  surrender,  he  fought  them  single-handed  as  they 
swarmed  around  him  intent  only  upon  his  destruction.  At 
last,  wounded  in  many  places,  he  fell  and,  while  prostrate, 
received  additional  wounds;  one  man  stabbing  him  in  the 
abdomen  with  his  bayonet.  Here  he  was  left  for  dead,  the 
enemy  for  some  reason  retreating. 

Captain  Ashby,  having  rallied  sufficient  strength,  dragged 
himself  to  the  shelter  of  a  neighboring  tree,  where  he  was 
afterwards  found. 

In  the  meantime  Col.  Turner  Ashby,  with  a  detachment 
of  his  command,  scouting  in  the  neighborhood,  arrived  by 
merest  accident  in  time  to  avenge  his  brother.  Learning 
from  a  young  lady  that  firing  of  small  arms  had  been  heard 
in  the  direction  his  brother  had  taken,  he  at  once  galloped 
to  his  aid.  Discovering  the  bloody  place  where  he  had 
fallen  and  full  of  forebodings,  he  rode  on  in  search  of  the 
foe.  The  Federals  had  retired  to  Kelly's  Island  in  the 
Potomac.  Ashby  seeing  them  from  the  Virginia  shore, 
dashed  into  the  stream  and  called  upon  his  men  to  charge. 
A  volley  that  emptied  two  saddles  greeted  them  as  they 
pressed  through  the  current  and  gained  the  bank. 

"At  them  with  your  knives,  men!"  cried  Ashby,  whom 
grief  for  his  brother  had  rendered  furious. 


24  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  contest  was  most  unequal,  but  the  fiery  rush  of 
Ashby  and  his  men  made  up  for  the  lack  of  numbers,  and 
after  a  short  and  bloody  fight  the  Federals  gave  way  before 
them  and  fled. 

Among  the  articles  captured  in  the  fight  were  Captain 
Ashby' s  spurs  and  horse.  The  sight  of  these  convinced 
Colonel  Ashby  that  his  brother  had  been  killed,  for  it  does 
not  appear  that  any  information  was  obtained  from  Federal 
prisoners,  if  any  were  taken. 

Search  was  now  made  for  the  body,  which,  mangled  and 
pierced  with  eight  wounds,  was  at  last  found.  It  was  soon 
discovered  that  life  was  not  extinct,  and  the  wounded 
captain  was  carried  to  the  house  of  Col.  George  Washing 
ton,  where,  though  kindly  cared  for,  he  died  after  seven 
days  of  intense  suffering. 

The  fight  at  Kelly's  Island  and  the  death  of  Richard 
Ashby  were  events  of  no  small  importance,  occurring  as 
they  did  in  the  beginning  of  the  war.  The  heroic  example 
of  the  dead  soldier  in  his  terrific  death  struggle,  his  brutal 
treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  victors,  and  the  subsequent 
punishment  by  Colonel  Ashby,  formed  exhaustless  topics 
around  the  camp-fires.  Thoughts  of  vengeance  were  the 
more  readily  indulged  in,  now  that  the  valor  of  Colonel 
Ashby  had  shown  what  true  prowess  might  accomplish. 

In  a  letter  to  his  family  after  the  death  of  his  brother, 
Colonel  Ashby  wrote:  "His  country  has  lost  the  services 
of  a  brave  man  with  a  strong  arm,  which  he  proved  upon 
his  enemies  in  losing  his  life.  He  was  buried  with  all  the 
honors  of  war,  and  never  was  greater  respect  paid  to  the 
memory  of  one  man." 

About  the  I5th  of  July,  1861,  the  forward  movement  of 
the  Federal  Army  under  General  Patterson,  across  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  25 

Potomac,  caused  the  Seventh  Regiment  to  be  ordered  to 
Winchester.  At  this  point  the  scattered  companies  gathered 
from  the  Potomac  frontier,  on  the  I9th  of  July.  Already 
on  the  1 8th  righting  had  begun  at  Manassas. 

Joseph  E.  Johnston,  who  commanded  the  army  at  Win 
chester,  secretly  moved  his  troops  by  a  forced  march  to 
Piedmont  and  thence  by  rail  to  Manassas,  deceiving  General 
Patterson,  who  still  believed  the  Confederate  Army  to  be 
in  his  front  at  Winchester,  and  by  rendering  timely  aid  to 
General  Beauregard,  gained  for  the  Confederacy  the  battle 
of  Bull  Run — the  first  great  battle  of  the  war. 

The  border  cavalry  were  ordered  to  co-operate  in  the 
movement,  but  the  Seventh  reached  Bull  Run  the  day  after 
the  battle.  Thence  after  a  short  rest  it  was  ordered  to 
Staunton,  and  soon  back  again  to  resume  its  old  position 
along  the  Potomac  frontier. 

Colonel  McDonald,  with  a  portion  of  the  regiment, 
re-established  his  headquarters  at  Romney,  while  Ashby, 
with  the  remainder,  held  the  right  of  the  border  line,  with 
his  headquarters  at  Charles  Town. 

The  work  of  destroying  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
went  on,  with  occasional  skirmishing  with  scouting  parties 
of  the  Federals. 

Early  in  September,  General  Geary,  commanding  the 
Federals  near  Harper's  Ferry,  crossed  the  Potomac  and 
seemed  about  to  march  further  southward.  Colonel  Ashby, 
assisted  by  400  militia  and  two  new  companies  of  cavalry 
under  Captains  R.  W.  Baylor  and  John  Henderson,  con 
fronted  the  foe  at  Bolivar  Heights  near  the  Ferry.  After  a 
spirited  skirmish,  Ashby  retired  to  the  next  commanding 
eminence,  known  as  School-House  Hill.  During  the  night 


26  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Geary  recrossed  the  Potomac  and  the  next  day  Ashby  took 
possession  of  Harper's  Ferry. 

On  the  24th  of  September  a  serious  brush  with  the  enemy 
occurred  near  Romney.  A  Federal  force  gathered  from 
Cumberland  and  Piedmont,  making  a  night  march, 
attempted  to  surprise  Colonel  McDonald's  camp.  The 
attempt  was  anticipated,  and  before  the  Federals  reached 
Romney  they  were  met  in  Mechanic's  Gap  of  the  South 
Branch  Mountain  and  driven  back.  With  creditable  per 
sistency,  another  gap  further  down  the  mountain  was 
passed,  and  the  enemy  having  crossed  the  South  Branch 
River,  advanced  upon  Romney.  Their  road  led  them 
through  a  narrow  pass  called  Hanging  Rock,  where  the 
way  has  the  river  on  one  side  and  an  almost  perpendicular 
wall  of  rock  on  the  other.  From  the  summit  of  the  cliff, 
Col.  E.  H.  McDonald,  with  thirteen  Hampshire  militiamen, 
threw  down  rocks  among  the  Federals  and  created  a  panic 
among  them.  After  firing  a  few  volleys,  the  column 
retreated  in  great  confusion,  the  cavalry,  in  their  eagerness 
to  escape,  riding  over  the  infantry,  and  forcing  many  into 
the  river. 

The  repulse,  however,  did  not  deter  the  Federals  from 
making  a  third  attempt.  Moving  further  down,  they 
successfully  crossed  the  mountain  barriers  and  threatened 
the  rear  of  the  Confederates.  Colonel  McDonald  now 
evacuated  Romney  and  the  Federals  took  possession  of  the 
town. 

Next  morning,  having  learned  that  the  enemy  were  pil 
laging  the  country  around  Romney,  and  were  somewhat 
disorganized  and  scattered,  Colonel  McDonald  advanced 
upon  them. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  27 

The  Federals,  apprised  of  his  coming,  hastily  withdrew 
to  the  South  Branch  bridge,  which  they  attempted  to  hold. 
A  gallant  charge  of  Confederate  horse  drove  them  from  this 
position  and  forced  them  into  a  disorderly  retreat.  Assisted 
by  the  Hampshire  militia,  under  Colonels  E.  H.  McDonald 
and  A.  Munroe,  the  cavalry  continued  the  pursuit  through 
the  gap  and,  following  close  upon  the  heels  of  the  fugitives, 
harassed  them  until  they  reached  New  Creek  Station  (now 
Keyser),  a  fortified  position  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  having  suffered  considerable  loss. 

About  a  month  later,  on  the  26th  of  October,  another 
more  formidable  attempt  was  made  to  occupy  the  South 
Branch  Valley.  Romney  was  considered  a  place  of  con 
siderable  strategic  importance,  especially  to  the  Federals. 
From  it  as  a  center,  fifty  miles  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  could  be  reached  in  a  short  day's  march.  Hence 
the  small  force  of  Confederates  at  Romney  was  regarded 
as  a  constant  menace  to  the  only  direct  railroad  communi 
cation  between  Washington  and  the  West.  Its  only  support 
was  at  Winchester,  forty  miles  off,  while  within  an  average 
distance  of  twenty  miles  along  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  were  stationed  considerable  bodies  of  Federal 
troops.  In  a  few  hours  it  would  have  been  quite  easy  to 
concentrate  a  force  strong  enough  to  march  upon  and 
occupy  Romney.  The  failure  of  their  first  expedition  was 
attributed  by  the  Federals  to  lack  of  numbers  sufficient  to 
impress  and  overawe  the  population. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  a  heavy  Federal  force  of  all 
arms  under  General  Kelly  advanced  upon  Romney.  Colonel 
McDonald  was  advised  of  its  coming  and  of  its  superior 
strength.  There  was  no  hope  of  his  being  able  to  hold 
Romney ;  but  he  determined,  in  retiring,  to  make  resistance 


28  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

wherever  the  advantages  of  position  gave  opportunity  to 
punish  and  cripple  the  foe. 

Six  miles  west  of  Romney  the  invading  column  was  first 
confronted  and  opposed.  Thence  back  through  Mechanic's 
Gap  to  the  South  Branch  bridge,  the  Confederates  withdrew, 
disputing  the  Federal  progress.  On  the  Romney  side  of 
the  bridge  Colonel  McDonald  determined  to  make  a  stand, 
notwithstanding  he  had  only  a  force  of  about  400  against 
more  than  2,000  of  the  enemy.  The  place,  however,  was 
admirably  suited  for  a  small  force  to  inflict  a  serious  blow 
upon  a  large  one.  The  high  ground  that,  like  a  mountain 
barrier,  shuts  in  the  river  valley  is  near  to  and  commands 
the  bridge  and  the  road  to  Romney.  About  a  half  mile 
from  the  bridge,  where  the  road  turns  and  ascends  through 
a  slight  defile,  is  Cemetery  Hill,  from  a  point  on  which  a 
piece  of  artillery  may  sweep  the  road  to  the  bridge. 

On  the  high  ground  near  the  bridge  a  part  of  the  com 
mand  under  Major  Funsten  was  posted,  with  a  howitzer. 
Colonel  McDonald  himself,  with  the  reserve  and  a  rifle  gun, 
occupied  Cemetery  Hill. 

At  the  approach  of  the  Federals,  their  great  superiority 
in  numbers  was  plain  to  all.  An  artillery  fire  from  both 
sides  began,  while  a  column  of  infantry  attempted  to  force 
a  passage  through  the  bridge.  This  was  driven  back  by  a 
well-directed  fire  from  Funsten' s  men.  In  the  meantime 
a  squadron  of  Federal  cavalry  had  succeeded  in  fording 
the  river  and  appeared  unexpectedly  on  the  Confederate 
flank.  The  sight  of  them  and  the  formidable  display  of 
infantry  coming  to  their  support,  made  it  apparent  that 
further  defense  was  futile.  Major  Funsten's  command  at 
once  abandoned  the  high  ground  and  retreated.  The 
Federal  horse,  encouraged  by  this,  charged  in  pursuit.  The 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  29 

retreat  soon  became  a  rout  and  then  a  stampede.  The 
fugitives  broke  through  the  reserve  and  carried  it  along 
with  them.  Soon  the  wagon  trains,  two  miles  in  the  rear, 
were  reached  by  the  Federal  horse  and  captured,  as  were 
also  both  guns. 

The  Federal  victory,  though  a  bloodless  one,  was  com 
plete.  Romney  was  taken  and  possessed  by  the  Federals, 
and  until  the  end  of  the  war  remained  virtually  in  their 
possession. 

Jackson,  in  the  following  December,  retook  and  held  it 
for  a  short  time,  but  his  expedition  thither  proved  how 
untenable  it  was. 

The  logic  of  war  is  inexorable.  As  the  commanding 
officer  receives  the  most  praise  when  a  victory  is  gained,  so 
he  chiefly  bears  the  penalty  of  defeat.  Even  where  others 
are  to  blame,  there  is  no  difference  in  the  result.  Disaster 
breeds  a  want  of  confidence,  and  this  in  turn  portends  more 
calamity.  The  situation  was  painfully  clear  to  Colonel 
McDonald.  The  good  of  the  service  demanded  a  change, 
and  the  majority  of  the  men  were  clamorous  for  the  leader 
ship  of  Ashby. 

In  an  interview  with  Jackson,  Colonel  McDonald  asked 
to  be  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Seventh.  The 
request  was  acceded  to,  and  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
artillery  defenses  at  Winchester. 

It  is  not  hard  to  discover  why  the  hearts  of  the  men  of 
the  Seventh  were  set  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ashby,  and 
why  they  were  clamorous  for  his  leadership;  for  being  in 
the  flower  of  young  manhood,  he  combined  in  the  highest 
degree  those  attributes  of  the  born  soldier  which  ever  attract 
men  of  similar  mould.  In  person,  while  little  above  the 
average  height,  his  form  was  well  shaped,  erect,  sinewy,  and 


30  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

graceful.  His  features  were  regular,  clear-cut,  and  deter 
mined;  his  eyes  black  and  rather  deep-set  for  his  age,  and 
his  swarthy  complexion  was  almost  hidden  under  a  heavy, 
flowing  black  beard  of  unusual  length.  Harnessed  in  the 
accoutrements  of  a  Southern  cavalry  officer,  and  mounted 
on  his  milk-white  charger,  which  he  sat  with  the  ease  of 
the  hereditary  horseman,  he  was  a  figure  needing  only  to  be 
seen  to  attract  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  both  friend 
and  foe.  His  manner  in  repose  was  modest,  gentle  and 
approachable. 

It  was  when  the  duties  of  a  soldier  aroused  him  to  action, 
that  the  transformation  took  place  that  made  him  the  most 
impetuous  and  daring  cavalry  leader  in  the  Confederate 
service. 

His  loyalty  to  his  State  and  to  the  Southern  cause  was 
intense  and  almost  romantic.  Their  enemies  were  his 
enemies,  and  it  was  his  motto  to  attack  and  destroy  them 
whenever  they  showed  themselves;  and  when  they  did  not 
show  themselves  to  hunt  for,  locate  and  harass  them  with 
impetuous  onsets. 

Such  in  brief  was  the  soldier  who  now  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  the  Seventh. 

Ashby  established  his  regimental  headquarters  near 
Charles  Town,  and  continued  with  his  troops  to  picket  the 
Potomac  frontier  as  far  west  as  the  border  of  Hampshire: 
for  Romney  still  remained  in  possession  of  the  Federals. 

On  the  nth  of  November,  1861,  under  special  authority 
of  the  Secretary  of  War,  there  was  organized  a  battery  of 
artillery,  which,  becoming  as  it  did  a  most  important  factor 
in  the  achievements  of  Ashby's  command,  is  worthy  here 
of  special  mention,  as  to  its  organization  and  services  and 
subsequent  assignments. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  31 

It  was  organized  with  thirty-three  men  and  the  following 
officers:  R.  P.  Chew,  captain;  Milton  Rouse,  first  lieuten 
ant;  J.  W.  McCarty  and  James  Thompson,  second  lieuten 
ants.  The  company  had  three  pieces  of  artillery;  one  a 
rifle  gun  called  the  "Blakely,"  one  howitzer,  and  one  six 
inch  rifle  gun.  At  the  suggestion  of  General  Ashby  the 
men  were  all  mounted,  and  this  was  the  first  mounted 
battery  of  flying  artillery  organized  in  the  Confederate 
Army.  It  served  throughout  the  Valley  campaign  under 
Stonewall  Jackson,  and  accompanied  the  brigade  of  Ashby 
at  the  front  of  its  advances,  retarding  the  enemy  in  its 
retreats  through  all  that  marvelous  campaign. 

Its  officers  were  cadets  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute. 
Educated  as  soldiers,  young  and  daring,  it  was  natural 
enough  that  a  battery  commanded  by  them  would  render 
most  effective  service  and  attain  a  worthy  distinction.  So 
it  was  that  "Chew's  Battery"  soon  earned  for  itself  a  name 
and  reputation  second  only  to  that  of  the  Ashby  command. 

This  company  served  after  the  death  of  Ashby  and 
Jackson  with  the  battalion  of  Stuart's  Horse  Artillery,  and 
perhaps  was  engaged  in  more  skirmishes  and  battles  than 
any  battery  in  the  Confederate  Army.  The  membership 
of  the  company  increased  rapidly  after  its  first  organization, 
and  included  during  the  war  a  membership  of  197  men. 
Lieutenants  Rouse  and  McCarty,  who  participated  in  its 
organization,  resigned  and  joined  the  cavalry  in  1862, 
where  they  distinguished  themselves  for  gallantry,  dash, 
and  courage.  Thompson  was  then  elected  first  lieutenant, 
and  James  W.  Williams  and  J.  W.  Carter  second  lieuten 
ants.  Captain  Chew  was  in  1864  promoted  to  the  command 
of  Stuart's  Horse  Artillery,  when  Thompson  succeeded 


32  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Chew  as  captain  of  the  battery,  and  E.  L.  Yancey  became 
the  second  lieutenant. 

On  March  ist,  1865,  the  Stuart  Horse  Artillery  was 
reorganized  into  five  battalions  of  two  batteries  each,  when 
Chew  was  made  lieutenant-colonel  and  Thompson  was  pro 
moted  to  major,  Carter  succeeding  Thompson  as  captain. 
As  successive  captains  of  Chew's  Battery  both  these  men 
served  with  great  distinction. 

When  Jackson  struck  Banks'  column  at  Middletown,  this 
battery  charged  with  the  cavalry,  and  under  the  direction 
of  General  Ashby  engaged  in  the  close  pursuit  of  the  enemy, 
and  it  was  perhaps  the  first  battery  in  the  service  to  inaugu 
rate  this  peculiar  and  effective  mode  of  fighting. 

At  Upperville,  when  the  brigade  under  Genl.  William  E. 
Jones,  while  in  marching  column  and  without  order  of 
battle,  was  attacked  at  right  angles  to  its  line  of  march  by 
the  Federal  cavalry,  and  thrown  into  temporary  confusion, 
this  battery  under  Captain  Chew  dashed  to  the  front  and, 
firing  canister  at  close  range  into  the  head  of  the  Federal 
advance,  produced  such  havoc  as  to  arrest  it  for  a  time,  and 
saved  the  brigade  from  what  might  have  been  a  serious 
disaster. 

On  the  6th  of  May,  1864,  when  Genl.  Thomas  L.  Rosser 
attacked  Wilson's  division  on  the  Catharpin  Road,  the 
beginning  of  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  this  battery 
charged  with  the  Eleventh  Cavalry,  doing  great  execution 
and  aiding  greatly  in  the  defeat  of  the  enemy.  Afterwards 
this  method  of  fighting  became  a  distinctive  feature  of  the 
fighting  of  the  Confederate  horse  artillery,  the  batteries 
being  often  found  in  the  charging  column  of  cavalry  or 
abreast  with  the  skirmish  line. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  33 

This  battery  served  in  the  Maryland  and  Gettysburg 
campaign  and  in  the  great  battles  between  Lee  and  Grant 
from  the  Rapidan  to  Richmond,  and  took  a  conspicuous 
part  in  the  battle  of  Trevilians  and  in  the  numerous  battles 
of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  around  Petersburg  to 
Appomattox. 

Genl.  Thomas  T.  Munford,  who  took  command  of  the 
Ashby  brigade  at  Cross  Keys,  after  the  fall  of  Ashby,  in  a 
letter  to  W.  McVicar,  a  private  of  Chew's  Battery,  of  date 
June  1 2th,  1906,  says:  "Chew's  Battery  was  Ashby's  pet, 
and  under  the  gallant  Chew  it  was  as  much  Ashby's  right 
arm  as  Ashby  was  the  right  arm  of  Jackson.  Indeed  the 
fame  of  this  battery  extended  throughout  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia,  and  the  attestations  to  its  distinguished 
service  are  too  numerous  for  present  mention." 

In  the  minds  of  the  people  of  the  Valley,  the  Ashby 
cavalry  and  Chew's  Battery  belonged  to  one  another  as  by 
natural  affinity,  and  they  located  the  position  of  the 
Federals  by  the  familiar  crack  of  "Chew's  Blakely,"  which 
awakened  the  echoes  of  the  mountains  and  spread  commo 
tion  in  the  encampments  of  the  enemy  ere  the  farmers  had 
aroused  to  call  and  feed  their  hogs. 

Early  in  December  Ashby's  command,  including  Chew's 
Battery,  was  ordered  to  join  Jackson  at  Martinsburg  to 
co-operate  with  him  in  an  attempt  to  destroy  Dam  No.  5 
in  the  Potomac.  This  was  the  most  important  of  a  succes 
sion  of  dams  that  supplied  water  to  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  Canal.  A  Federal  force  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
river  attempted  to  prevent  the  execution  of  the  work,  but 
without  success.  Sharpshooters  at  points  of  advantage 
concentrated  their  fire  on  the  path  that  led  down  the  bank 
to  the  dam,  while  a  brisk  cannonade  was  kept  up.  The 


34  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

work  could  only  be  done  at  night,  in  the  water,  which  was 
freezing  cold. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  on  January  ist,  1862,  Jackson, 
now  reinforced  by  Loring's  brigade,  set  out  on  his  famous 
Bath  and  Romney  expedition,  the  object  of  which  was  to 
re-occupy  Romney  and  hold  possession  of  the  South  Branch 
Valley.  Ashby,  with  his  command,  was  ordered  to  join 
him. 

New  Year's  Day  opened  bright  and  promising,  but 
towards  evening  a  northwester  blew,  bringing  storm  of 
rain  and  sleet.  The  by-roads,  which  Jackson  for  sake  of 
secrecy  usually  traveled,  soon  became  almost  impassable. 
Biting  winter  had  now  set  in  and  the  men  suffered  severely. 
After  a  weary  journey  of  three  days  Bath  was  reached.  As 
Ashby  entered  the  town  the  Federals  were  moving  off 
towards  Hancock,  a  village  three  miles  distant,  on  the  oppo 
site  bank  of  the  Potomac.  Ashby  followed  and  soon  came 
up  with  their  rear  guard,  with  which  he  skirmished.  In 
this  affair  Lieutenant  Lang  and  three  privates  of  Company 
C  were  badly  wounded.  The  enemy,  however,  got  safely 
across  the  river  and  halted  in  Hancock.  Jackson  sent 
Ashby  across  the  river  to  demand  a  surrender,  and  threat 
ening  that  if  the  town  was  not  evacuated  he  would  bom 
bard  it. 

Says  Dabney  in  his  "Life  of  Jackson,"  "As  Ashby  was 
led  blindfold  up  the  streets,  he  overheard  the  Federal 
soldiers  whispering  the  one  to  the  other,  That  is  the  famous 
Colonel  Ashby/  and  soon  the  suppressed  hum  of  a  crowd 
told  him  that  they  were  thronging  around  to  catch  a  sight 
of  the  warrior  whose  name  had  so  often  carried  confusion 
into  their  ranks." 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  35 

The  Federal  general  naturally  refused  to  surrender  to  a 
hostile  force  on  the  other  side  of  the  Potomac,  and  declined 
also  to  evacuate  the  place.  Upon  Ashby's  returning  and 
delivering  his  reply,  Jackson  ordered  the  guns  to  open  upon 
the  town.  This  was  done,  it  is  said,  in  retaliation  for  the 
bombardment  of  Shepherdstown  a  short  time  before,  but 
Jackson  probably  had  a  better  reason. 

Jackson  began  preparing  to  cross  the  river,  but  hearing 
that  the  enemy  was  reinforced,  he  decided  to  go  on  to 
Romney. 

On  January  7th  his  column  left  the  vicinity  of  Hancock 
and  marched  by  mountain  roads  sheathed  with  ice  towards 
Romney.  The  progress  was  exceedingly  slow.  The  horses, 
smooth-shod,  continually  slipped  and  fell ;  the  men,  ill  clad, 
were  nearly  frozen;  the  artillery  was  dragged  along  with 
great  difficulty.  Romney  was  not  reached  until  January 
I4th.  When  Capt.  George  Sheetz,  with  two  companies  of 
cavalry,  was  seen  approaching,  the  Federals,  supposing  the 
main  body  to  be  near  by,  departed  hastily,  abandoning  their 
tents  and  many  valuable  stores.  Ashby  pursued  them, 
harassing  their  rear  and  taking  some  prisoners. 

Long  before  Romney  was  reached,  it  was  discovered  that 
the  troops  under  General  Kelly  had  behaved  like  vandals. 
While  in  possession  of  Hampshire  county  mills,  tanneries 
and  factories  had  been  burnt.  From  Blue's  Gap  to  Romney, 
a  distance  of  sixteen  miles,  scarcely  a  house  had  been  left 
standing.  The  wayside  was  strewed  with  the  carcasses  of 
cattle  and  other  domestic  animals.  In  Romney  the  out 
buildings  were  gone  and  many  of  the  dwellings  had  been 
converted  into  stables,  while  every  church  save  one  had  been 
foully  desecrated. 


36  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  brutal  treatment  of  the  Hampshire  people  by  the 
Federal  soldiers  appears  to  have  been  not  only  winked  at 
but  authorized  by  those  in  command.  There  were  few 
slaveholders  in  the  county,  and  the  stubborn  adherence  of 
the  people  to  the  Confederate  cause  could  not  be  understood 
from  a  Federal  point  of  view.  Their  "treason"  was 
regarded  as  of  a  malignant  type,  and  deserving  of  the 
severest  punishment.  It  was  inconceivable  to  men  believing 
the  war  to  be  a  slaveholders'  rebellion,  how  the  yeomanry 
of  the  non-slaveholding  mountains  should  be  among  the 
boldest  and  bravest  defenders  of  secession ;  and  consequently 
these  "senseless  rebels"  were  shown  none  of  the  mercies  of 
civilized  warfare.  Hunted  to  their  homes,  they  were  shot 
down,  and  their  houses  burnt  in  many  instances. 

Such  brutality  only  deepened  the  feeling  of  hostility  in 
the  hearts  of  the  people  and  evoked  reprisals,  and  the  crack 
of  the  deadly  rifle  from  wooded  cover  often  saluted  the 
Federal  scouting  parties.  Sentinels  were  cut  off,  pickets 
captured  and  whole  companies  sometimes  ambuscaded.  The 
unconquerable  mountaineers  left  no  ground  undisputed 
except  that  upon  which  the  Federal  forces  camped. 

Now  that,  after  a  march  of  nearly  100  miles  through  ice 
and  snow,  the  South  Branch  Valley  was  occupied,  the 
trouble  of  holding  it  began  to  appear.  There  was  no 
danger  of  immediate  attack.  To  few  besides  the  intrepid 
Jackson  would  campaigning  be  thought  of  in  the  dead  of 
winter;  but  spring  was  coming  and  the  Federals  were 
gathering  at  different  points  on  the  border.  Winchester 
was  far  in  the  rear  and  a  day's  march  nearer  Harper's 
Ferry  than  Romney.  Jackson  therefore  determined  to 
leave  General  Loring  with  the  bulk  of  the  command  at 


DR.   NELSON   G.   WEST 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  37 

Romney  and  Moorefield  and  return  with  the  Stonewall 
Brigade  to  Winchester. 

Ashby  was  sent  with  the  larger  part  of  his  cavalry  to 
watch  the  Potomac  border.  He  established  a  cordon  of 
pickets  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  Hampshire.  Captain 
Sheetz,  with  his  company  stationed  near  Blue's  Gap,  having 
charge  of  the  left  of  the  line. 

On  the  25th  of  January,  the  Secretary  of  War,  learning 
that  Loring's  force  was  threatened  with  capture,  ordered 
Jackson  to  recall  him  to  Winchester.  This  was  done  on 
the  3ist  of  January,  and  thus,  after  a  respite  of  a  few  weeks, 
Romney  and  the  South  Branch  Valley  again  fell  under 
Federal  sway. 

General  Loring,  with  his  brigades,  was  transferred  to  a 
distant  command,  and  Jackson  was  left  with  about  6,000 
men  to  hold  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

General  McClellan,  with  a  formidable  army,  was  now 
threatening  Richmond,  and  the  Federal  forces  under  Banks 
and  Shields  were  now  expected  to  co-operate  in  the  move 
ment. 

Ashby,  with  scouts  entering  their  camps  and  reporting 
their  numbers,  with  pickets  holding  vigilant  watch  at  every 
river  crossing,  kept  Jackson  exactly  informed  as  to  the 
movements  of  the  enemy.  Jackson  trusted  him  implicitly. 

Confident  that  Banks  and  Shields  would  soon  march  upon 
Winchester,  and  knowing  that  it  was  hazardous  to  attempt 
to  hold  the  place,  Jackson  was  busily  engaged  in  removing 
his  stores  far  up  the  Valley  to  a  place  of  safety. 

On  the  25th  of  February  Banks  crossed  the  Potomac  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  and  by  the  4th  of  March  his  forces  and 
those  of  Shields,  numbering  more  than  30,000,  were 
encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  Charles  Town  and  Martinsburg. 


38  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Slowly  and  cautiously  Banks  advanced  towards  Winchester, 
Shields  following  with  equal  deliberation.  Their  snail-like 
pace  was  due  in  great  measure  to  the  fear  of  Jackson,  and 
scarcely  less  to  the  fear  of  Ashby  and  to  the  activity  of  his 
cavalry,  which,  coming  close  up  to  the  Federal  infantry 
camps,  beat  back  within  their  lines  such  bodies  of  cavalry 
as  dared  venture  beyond  them. 

As  the  Federal  main  body  moved  forward,  the  head  of 
the  column  from  each  successive  hilltop  was  saluted  by  the 
guns  of  Captain  Chew,  and  every  stray  squadron,  discovered 
beyond  the  infantry  supports,  was  promptly  driven  back 
by  the  shells  of  Chew  and  the  charge  of  the  cavalry. 
Ashby's  force  was  too  small  to  attempt  serious  resistance, 
but  his  sleepless  vigilance  and  activity  kept  the  Federals 
in  a  state  of  ignorance  and  anxiety  as  to  the  movements  of 
Jackson. 

On  the  nth  of  March,  1862,  Winchester  was  evacuated 
by  Jackson  and  the  Confederates  marched  slowly  south 
ward,  the  main  body  reaching  Mt.  Jackson  on  the  I7th. 
Ashby  brought  up  the  rear,  skirmishing  with  the  Federal 
vanguard.  Ever  on  the  alert,  he  was  constantly  seeking 
points  of  attack,  and  contriving  with  bold  ingenuity  sur 
prises  and  ambuscades. 

At  Fishers  Hill,  concealing  a  body  of  his  men  in  the 
woods,  he  waited  till  the  Federal  horse  was  passing,  and 
then  rushed  upon  them.  At  Stony  Creek,  he  lay  in  wait 
for  some  foraging  parties,  and  swooping  down  from  his 
place  of  concealment,  took  many  prisoners.  When  there 
were  no  isolated  parties  to  ensnare  or  surprise,  he  would 
make  a  stealthy  approach  to  a  Federal  camp  with  one  gun 
from  Chew's  Battery,  and  startle  the  inmates  with  a  well- 
directed  bomb.  A  Federal  officer  in  Banks'  army  once  said 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  39 

that  he  had  learned  to  look  for  Ashby' s  shells  as  regularly 
as  he  did  for  his  breakfast.  This  hanging  hornet-like  on 
the  front  and  flanks  of  the  enemy,  did  apparently  no  great 
damage,  but  the  effect  of  it  was  to  greatly  facilitate  Jack 
son's  operations.  It  kept  the  enemy  always  in  the  dark 
as  to  the  whereabouts  of  Jackson,  and  helped  to  create  that 
almost  superstitious  dread  of  Jackson  which  possessed  the 
minds  of  the  Federals  and  which  almost  attributed  to  him 
the  power  of  ubiquity. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  Jackson's  success  in  the  Valley 
was  largely  due  to  the  secrecy  that  enveloped  his  move 
ments.  It  was  Ashby's  impenetrable  cordon  of  pickets,  at 
the  fords,  crossroads,  and  mountain  passes,  and  his  ever 
aggressive  demonstrations  that  had  most  to  do  in  making 
Jackson's  mantle  of  mystery,  and  in  keeping  General  Banks 
in  absolute  ignorance  of  his  movements. 

On  March  the  iQth  information  was  received  from  Genl. 
Joseph  E.  Johnston,  who  was  then  retiring  before  McClellan 
towards  Richmond,  that  a  part  of  Banks'  force  was  about 
to  be  recalled  to  aid  McClellan,  and  that  it  was  important 
to  make  a  demonstration  against  Banks  in  order  to  prevent 
this  movement. 

On  the  2  ist  Ashby,  who  had  been  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy  between  Woodstock  and  Strasburg,  reported  that 
the  Federals  had  evacuated  the  latter  place,  and  that  he  was 
harassing  their  rear  as  they  fell  back  towards  Winchester. 

Jackson  at  once  prepared  to  pursue,  ordering  Ashby  to 
press  the  enemy.  On  the  22nd  the  Confederate  main  body 
made  a  forced  march  to  Strasburg,  a  distance  of  twenty- 
two  miles.  The  same  day  Ashby  pressed  vigorously  the 
retreating  Federals,  and  by  five  o'clock  P.  M.  had  driven 
them  into  Winchester.  One  of  his  divisions,  Williams', 


40  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

had  marched  that  morning  towards  Manassas;  the  other, 
Shields',  was  still  in  camp  near  the  town.  The  fugitive 
Federal  troopers  galloping  through  the  streets  and  the 
sound  of  Ashby's  guns  startled  General  Banks.  Shields' 
division  was  ordered  under  arms.  An  infantry  brigade, 
two  batteries  of  artillery  and  some  cavalry  were  sent  to 
confront  Ashby.  The  latter  had  about  250  cavalry  and 
three  guns  of  Chew's  Battery,  but  he  did  not  decline  the 
unequal  combat.  A  spirited  skirmish  ensued.  Chew's 
guns  answered  those  of  the  enemy  with  defiant  roar,  while 
the  menacing  attitude  of  the  grey  squadrons,  ever  ready  to 
charge,  kept  the  Federal  horse  in  the  background  and  com 
pelled  the  infantry  to  advance  with  great  deliberation. 
General  Shields,  in  command  of  the  Federals,  had  his  arm 
fractured  by  a  piece  of  shell.  Perchance  it  was  a  fateful 
hit,  as  it  disabled  and  prevented  him  from  being  actively 
present  on  the  field  the  next  day. 

Ashby  gradually  retired  to  Kernstown,  three  miles  from 
Winchester,  and  took  position  for  the  night.  In  his  report 
General  Shields  says  he  purposely  concealed  his  numbers. 
The  impression  this  produced  upon  Ashby  was  confirmed 
by  some  of  his  scouts,  who  in  disguise  had  entered  Win 
chester,  and  from  conversation  with  citizens  reported  that 
only  four  regiments  of  infantry  were  stationed  there. 

This  information  being  sent  to  Jackson,  doubtless  induced 
him  to  hurry  forward  from  Strasburg  the  next  day  without 
waiting  for  his  sore-footed  stragglers  to  catch  up. 

During  the  night  the  Federals  took  defensive  positions 
against  further  attack;  but  a  reconnoissance  in  force  the 
next  morning  convinced  Shields  and  Banks  that  Ashby  only, 
with  some  cavalry,  was  in  their  front.  Ashby  had  misled 
him  before  by  his  daring  strategy,  but  General  Banks,  not 


REV.    JAMES    BATTLE    AVIRETT 

and  JOHN    (Black   Hawk)    COOK   OF   GENERAL  ASHBY'S 
HEADQUARTERS    MESS 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  41 

wishing  to  be  outwitted  again,  took  train  and  left  for 
Washington. 

It  was  true  that  Ashby  only  was  near,  but  Jackson  was 
coming,  having  hurried  forward  four  companies  of  the 
Second  Virginia  Infantry,  under  Captain  Naidenbousch, 
to  support  the  cavalry  and  artillery. 

In  the  meantime  Ashby  had  engaged  the  Federals  who 
had  come  out  on  the  Strasburg  turnpike  to  feel  his  strength, 
by  opening  on  them  with  his  artillery. 

At  ten  o'clock  Captain  Naidenbousch  arrived  with  his 
four  companies,  which  were  at  once  pushed  forward  against 
the  Federal  skirmishers,  which  after  some  resistance  gave 
way,  and  Ashby's  whole  force  advanced. 

So  serious  did  this  movement  appear  to  Colonel  Kimball, 
who  took  command  of  the  Federals  after  the  wounding  of 
Shields,  that  to  check  Ashby  he  brought  up  an  additional 
force  consisting  of  the  Eighth  Ohio,  two  companies  of  the 
Sixty-seventh  Ohio,  Sullivan's  brigade  and  several  batteries 
of  artillery.  Kimball's  brigade  and  Daum's  Artillery  were 
already  there,  and  these,  together  with  the  reinforcements 
mentioned,  constituted  more  than  a  third  of  Shields'  division 
of  9,000  men. 

For  nearly  two  hours  Ashby  held  this  force  at  bay,  by  a 
cunning  and  audacious  handling  of  his  small  force.  Chew's 
guns  seizing  points  of  advantage,  with  a  continuous  roar, 
fought  at  close  range  confident  in  the  support  of  the  grey 
squadrons,  that  at  every  attempt  to  take  the  guns  dashed 
out  and  drove  back  the  enemy. 

The  gallant  Naidenbousch,  with  his  four  companies  of 
infantry  deployed  as  skirmishers,  boldly  faced  the  battle 
lines  of  the  Federals. 


42  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Slowly,  but  with  a  steady  front,  Ashby  fell  back  to  the 
hills  south  of  Kernstown. 

When  Jackson,  with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  arrived 
about  ten  o'clock  "he  found,"  says  Dabney,  "Ashby  pressed 
back  to  the  highlands  south  of  Kernstown  and  confronted 
by  heavy  masses  of  the  enemy." 

Jackson's  rapid  march  of  thirty-six  miles  in  thirty-two 
hours  had  greatly  wearied  his  troops.  Many  broken  down 
with  fatigue  were  far  in  the  rear.  At  first  he  thought  of 
waiting  until  the  next  day,  but  fearing  that  Williams' 
division  would  return  during  the  night  he  resolved  to  attack 
at  once. 

By  four  o'clock  his  men  had  taken  position.,  On  the  right 
was  Ashby,  with  four  companies  of  infantry  and  150 
cavalry,  the  Forty-second  Virginia  Infantry  being  in  the 
turnpike  in  supporting  distance. 

About  one-half  of  his  troopers  had  been,  under  Major 
Funsten,  to  guard  Jackson's  extreme  left.  Next  to  Ashby, 
covering  a  mile  in  the  Federal  front,  was  the  Fifth  Virginia, 
then  the  rest  of  the  infantry  and  artillery. 

As  nearly  one-half  of  Shields'  army  was  in  front  of 
Ashby,  Jackson's  plan  was  to  threaten  the  Federal  left  and 
center  with  the  small  force  of  Ashby,  while  he  would  mass 
the  main  body  of  his  infantry  and  artillery  on  their  right, 
and  make  his  chief  attack  there. 

When  his  dispositions  were  all  made,  the  center  and  left 
advanced,  the  latter  being  thrown  continually  forward. 

The  infantry  were  soon  at  close  quarters,  and  for  two 
hours  there  was  an  incessant  rattle  of  musketry  and  roar 
of  artillery.  Ashby,  with  his  handful,  behaved  as  if  a 
division  was  at  his  back,  for  his  orders  were  to  occupy  the 
attention  of  the  large  force  in  his  front. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  43 

Nothing  but  his  marvelous  audacity  concealed  the  weak 
ness  of  Jackson's  right  and  prevented  its  being  turned,  and 
the  Valley  turnpike  from  being  seized  by  the  enemy. 

As  soon  as  Jackson's  left  began  to  go  forward,  Chew's1 
guns  on  the  right  drawing  nearer  the  Federals,  poured  shot 
and  shell  into  their  dense  columns;  while  Ashby,  moving 
squadrons  from  point  to  point,  now  threatened,  now  charged 
their  lines. 

"On  the  right,"  says  Dabney,  "Colonel  Ashby  cannonaded 
the  enemy  continually  with  his  three  guns,  with  such 
audacity  as  to  win  ground  all  day  from  their  multitudes." 

The  fierceness  of  Ashby 's  attack  must  have  greatly 
deceived  the  Federal  commander,  for  it  was  not  until  the 
battle  had  lasted  nearly  two  hours  that  he  withdrew  a  portion 
of  the  force  in  front  of  Ashby  to  reinforce  his  right.  That 
flank  was  then  giving  way  before  the  deadly  fire  and 
intrepid  valor  of  Jackson's  infantry,  but  upon  the  arrival 
at  Kernstown  of  six  regiments  sent  to  reinforce  them,  soon 
rallied  and,  recovering  their  lost  ground,  became  in  turn 
the  assailants. 

Jackson  was  now  sorely  pressed  by  overwhelming  num 
bers;  already  his  small  arms  ammunition  was  nearly 
exhausted  and  the  fire  of  his  infantry  slackening. 

Soon  the  whole  Stonewall  Brigade  was  out  of  ammuni 
tion,  and  General  Garnett  ordered  them  to  fall  back. 
Meanwhile  Jackson  had  ordered  to  the  left  the  Fifth 
Virginia  Regiment,  that  connected  with  Ashby,  and  the 
Forty-second  Virginia,  which  supported  him  on  the  turn 
pike. 


1Col.  R.  Preston  Chew,  commander  of  the  Horse  Artillery,  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia. 


44  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Ashby  was  now  left  with  four  companies  of  infantry  and 
150  cavalry  to  keep  back  a  force  more  than  four  times  his 
own.  Nearly  a  mile  of  unguarded  front  was  between  him 
and  Jackson.  Although  the  force  in  front  of  him  had  been 
diminished  one-half,  he  had  suffered  a  like  diminution,  and 
the  relative  strength  of  his  adversary  was  the  same. 

The  Federals,  suspecting  his  paucity  of  numbers,  which 
his  menacing  attitudes  and  constant  shifting  of  squadrons 
had  hitherto  concealed,  began  to  advance  with  confidence. 
It  needed  no  courier  to  inform  him  that  Jackson  was  power 
less  to  send  aid,  for  the  loss  of  his  position  would  probably 
ensure  the  destruction  of  Jackson's  army.  The  departure 
of  the  Forty-second  and  Fifth  regiments  hurrying  towards 
the  left,  the  clouds  of  smoke  over  the  crest  of  Kernstown 
heig-hts,  and  the  increasing  roar  of  battle  from  that  quarter, 
revealed  the  gravity  of  the  situation  and  told  him  more 
plainly  than  words  that  he  must  do  the  best  he  could  with 
the  troops  he  had  in  hand. 

Cunningly  displaying  his  force  so  as  to  magnify  it,  he 
pushed  his  artillery  forward  and  assaulted  the  foe. 

Chew,  with  his  dauntless  gunners,  secure  of  Ashby's 
support,  with  grape  and  canister  kept  off  the  Federal 
skirmishers,  while  with  shot  and  shell  they  staggered  the 
advancing  battle  lines. 

When  light  detachments  would  approach  his  flank,  or 
from  under  cover  make  a  rush  upon  his  guns,  right  at  the 
auspicious  moment  a  squadron  would  charge  and  drive  them 
back. 

Ashby  was  everywhere  apparently,  foreseeing  and  pro 
viding  for  every  contingency  and  meeting  the  weight  of 
numbers  with  that  of  skill  and  daring. 


COL.    R.   PRESTON    CHEW 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  45 

Evening  slowly  wore  on;  the  roar  of  battle  showed  that 
Jackson  was  giving  ground.  The  Federals  redoubled  their 
efforts  to  dislodge  Ashby  and  seize  the  turnpike,  but  nothing 
could  move  him  until  it  was  time  to  go.  Naidenbousch's 
four  companies  in  skirmish  order  still  grimly  faced  and 
fought  the  foe. 

Chew's  guns  with  a  furious  cannonade  continued  to  keep 
the  battle  lines  at  bay. 

The  Federal  right  was  victorious.  The  news  spreading 
to  the  Federal  left  inspired  them  to  make  a  bolder  advance. 
On  they  came,  with  steady  and  menacing  front,  with  bodies 
of  skirmishers  threatening  Ashby' s  flanks.  The  flanking 
parties  were  charged  and  driven,  but  the  main  battle  line 
moved  steadily  forward. 

At  this  juncture,  Ashby  ordered  a  charge  of  cavalry.  It 
was  made  by  a  squadron  led  by  Lieutenant  Thrasher.  The 
impetuosity  of  the  charge  broke  the  Federal  lines,  created 
great  disorder  and  quite  a  number  of  prisoners  were  taken. 

This  well-delivered  blow  helped  much  to  stop  the  advance 
of  the  enemy  and  gave  Ashby  opportunity  to  withdraw  in 
order,  and  to  cover  Jackson's  rear  as  he  retired,  but  it  cost 
the  life  of  the  gallant  Thrasher  and  two  privates  of 
Company  G. 

In  the  meantime  the  cavalry  under  Major  Funsten, 
stationed  on  Jackson's  extreme  left,  had  guarded  that  flank 
during  the  fight.  Towards  the  close  when  the  infantry  fell 
back,  the  Federal  cavalry  emboldened  by  the  retreat  of  the 
Confederates,  attempted  to  increase  the  disorder  by  charg 
ing  their  ranks.  They  wrere  speedily  met  by  the  squadrons 
of  Funsten  and  held  in  check. 

Making  a  circuit  by  the  Cedarville  turnpike,  the  Federal 
horse  attempted  to  fall  suddenly  upon  the  retreating 


46  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

infantrymen ;  but  they  were  confronted  by  Funsten  and  not 
only  checked  but  put  to  flight,  hurrying  at  breakneck  speed 
towards  their  own  lines. 

Jackson's  wearied  foot  soldiers,  who  had  marched  thirty- 
six  miles  to  engage  an  enemy  nearly  threefold  their  own, 
and  having  inflicted  a  loss  upon  them  nearly  equal  to  their 
own  fighting  force,  the  shadows  of  evening  rapidly  falling, 
fell  back  upon  Newtown,  some  three  miles  south  of  Kerns- 
town,  where  the  wagons  were  parked,  and  bivouacked  for 
the  night. 

Ashby,  with  his  undaunted  handful,  which  had  so  gal 
lantly  held  the  right  of  Jackson's  line,  retired  in  good  order, 
resisting  the  Federal  advance,  and  guarding  Jackson's  rear, 
halted  at  Bartonsville,  only  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the 
scene  of  conflict. 

While  the  boldness  of  Jackson  in  hurling  upon  the 
Federal  right  the  main  body  of  his  army,  which  all  told 
was  less  than  one-third  the  force  he  was  attacking,  misled 
the  Federal  commander,  Shields,  into  supposing  he  was 
supported  by  a  large  force  at  the  center  and  right,  yet  it 
was  Jackson's  dependence  and  absolute  confidence  in  the 
resourcefulness  and  boldness  of  Ashby,  and  the  heroism  of 
his  men,  that  gave  him  the  confidence  to  make  such  a 
daring  movement. 

Had  Ashby,  with  his  handful  of  cavalry,  Chew's  Battery, 
and  a  few  skirmishers  acted  only  on  the  defensive  in  trying 
to  hold  position,  the  enemy  would  unquestionably  early  in 
the  engagement  have  discovered  the  weak  spot,  attacked 
the  right  in  force,  occupied  the  Valley  turnpike,  cutting  off 
the  only  way  by  which  Jackson  could  retreat,  and  probably 
have  attacked  him  in  reverse. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  47 

It  was  the  aggressiveness  of  Ashby  and  his  ingenious 
show  of  force  by  the  incessant  cannonading  with  the  guns  of 
Chew,  the  constant  fusillade  kept  up  by  the  skirmish  line, 
and  the  activity  of  the  cavalry,  that  entirely  deceived  the 
Federal  commander. 


CHAPTER  II 

March,    1862 

Daily  skirmishes  with  force  of  Banks — Addition  of  new  companies  and 
recruits  swell  the  brigade — Jackson  orders  it  divided  into  two  com 
mands,  and  Ashby  tenders  his  resignation — Jackson  revokes  the 
order  and  Ashby  withdraws  his  resignation — Jackson  marches  to 
McDowell  and  defeats  Fremont — Ashby  screens  the  movement  from 
Banks  by  constant  skirmishing  in  his  front — Destroys  railroad  and 
telegraph  between  Front  Royal  and  Strasburg — Attack  upon  Federal 
infantry  at  Buckton,  where  Captains  Sheetz  and  Fletcher  fall — 
Battle  of  Winchester  and  pursuit  of  Banks — Ashby  throws  his  cav 
alry  between  the  converging  armies  of  Shields  and  Fremont  and 
prevents  communication  between  them — Informs  Jackson  fully  of 
their  movements — Capture  of  Sir  Percy  Wyndham — Death  of 
Ashby — Cross  Keys  and  Port  Republic. 

The  day  after  the  battle  of  Kernstown  the  Federals 
followed,  and  at  Middletown  the  Federal  cavalry  advanced 
and  endeavored  to  cut  off  Chew's  Battery,  which  as  usual 
in  retreat  was  full  in  the  rear,  and  now  occupying  the  crest 
of  a  hill.  The  Federals  had  gotten  on  its  flank  and  nearly 
in  its  rear,  when  out  of  a  skirt  of  woods  dashed  Ashby 
leading  a  squadron  and  forced  them  to  retire. 

Nearly  every  day  similar  affairs  occurred,  and  the  success 
of  Ashby's  cavalry  under  his  bold  leadership,  gave  to  both 
it  and  him,  throughout  the  armies  of  friend  and  foe,  a 
fame  that  was  akin  to  romance. 

Though  beaten  at  Kernstown,  Jackson  remained  in  the 
eyes  of  the  Confederates  a  real  victor.  The  long,  hard 
fight  against  a  greatly  superior  force  of  the  enemy  was  a 
signal  proof  of  Southern  valor.  The  report  of  the  battle 
kindled  a  martial  spirit.  Jackson's  boldness  and  skill 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  49 

inspired   confidence,    while   Ashby's   activity   and   personal 
daring  made  his  leadership  attractive. 

Fresh  recruits  poured  in  to  fill  up  the  regiments  of 
infantry.  The  mounted  companies  under  Ashby  began  to 
overflow  in  numbers,  and  from  the  surplus  new  ones  were 
formed.  New  companies  also  enlisted,  and  among  the 
latter  were  those  of  Capt.  Thomas  Marshall  of  Frederick, 
Capt.  T.  B.  Massie  of  Rappahannock,  Captain  Harness 
from  Hardy,  and  Capt.  Murat  Willis  from  Warrenton. 

By  the  2Oth  of  April  Ashby  had  twenty  companies.  His 
command,  however,  was  unorganized.  Though  a  brigade 
in  size  it  did  not  have  as  many  field  officers  as  one  regiment 
ordinarily  has.  Besides  Ashby,  Major  Funsten  was  the 
only  officer  above  the  rank  of  captain. 

On  the  1 5th  of  April  General  Banks  wrote  to  McClellan : 
"The  progress  of  Fremont  in  the  west  towards  Staunton 
has  alarmed  Jackson,  who  has  moved  above  New  Market. 
Ashby  is  still  here.  We  have  a  sleepless  eye  upon  him,  and 
are  straining  every  nerve  to  advance  as  quickly  as  possible." 

The  advance  of  Fremont  was  part  of  a  concerted  move 
ment  to  drive  Jackson  out  of  the  Valley  and  seize  Staunton. 

On  the  1 7th  of  April  Banks  marched  to  Mt.  Jackson. 
Ashby  having  ordered  Chew's  guns  back  to  Rude's  Hill, 
remained  on  a  eminence  north  of  the  bridge.  He  had  with 
him  a  small  body  of  men.  He  had  prepared  the  kindling 
to  burn  the  bridge,  but  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  with 
exceptional  enterprise,  charged  him  with  a  large  force  and 
drove  him  across  the  bridge,  pursuing  along  the  turnpike. 
A  Federal  cavalrymen  riding  up  near  Ashby  endeavored  to 
kill  him  with  his  pistol.  Harry  Hatcher  of  Loudoun  county 
observing  his  danger,  with  the  greatest  coolness  galloped 
forward  and  killed  the  trooper.  Ashby  paid  little  attention 


50  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

to  this  attack,  being  intent  on  getting  his  cavalry  back  to 
recapture  and  burn  the  bridge.  His  cavalry  had  gone  so 
far,  however,  in  the  direction  of  Rude's  Hill,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  recall  them  in  time.  Ashby  escaped  from  this 
conflict  unscathed,  but  his  famous  white  horse  was  shot  by 
the  enemy.  He  was  led  back  beyond  Rude's  Hill  and  died 
near  the  Valley  turnpike. 

On  this  retreat  Ashby  fought  the  advance  of  the  enemy 
from  every  hilltop,  and  at  Edenburg,  where  he  laid  for  thirty 
days,  he  was  engaged  with  his  guns  and  cavalry  twenty- 
eight  times. 

On  the  1 7th  Jackson  broke  camp  and  retreated  up  the 
Valley.  The  next  day  he  reached  Harrisonburg,  and  there 
leaving  the  turnpike,  marched  in  the  direction  of  Swift  Run 
Gap.  Crossing  the  Shenandoah  he  went  into  camp  at 
Conrad's  Store  in  Elk  Run  Valley,  and  there  stood  at  bay. 
The  place  lies  between  the  South  Fork  of  the  Shenandoah 
and  Swift  Run  Gap.  A  road  running  through  the  latter 
furnished  easy  communication  with  General  Ewell,  whose 
division  of  about  7,000  men  lay  encamped  along  the  Rapidan 
River,  within  two  days'  march. 

He  now  seemed  to  have  abandoned  the  Valley  and 
Staunton  to  the  mercies  of  the  Federals;  but,  in  fact, 
nothing  was  further  from  his  mind. 

In  the  meanwhile  Ashby,  with  his  cavalry,  confronted 
Banks,  disputing  his  advance  and  so  worrying  him  that  he 
was  kept  in  a  chronic  state  of  bewilderment  as  to  Jackson's 
movements. 

So  completely  was  Banks  deceived,  that  at  one  time  he 
thought  Jackson  had  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge.  He  reports 
nothing  to  Washington  except  that,  "Ashby  is  here." 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  51 

Jackson,  though  quiet,  was  intensely  on  the  alert.  From 
his  mountain  perch  he  was  watching  and  planning. 

The  road  was  opened  to  Staunton,  but  Banks  hesitated 
to  go  forward.  Perhaps  he  was  waiting  for  Fremont,  who, 
on  the  other  side  of  the  North  Mountain,  was  moving 
slowly  southward. 

In  the  meantime  Jackson,  who  neglected  nothing,  was 
busily  engaged  in  reorganizing  his  command.  The  infantry 
recruits  were  distributed  among  the  old  companies  and  the 
skeleton  regiments  were  rapidly  filled  up. 

The  mounted  men  were  put  into  the  cavalry,  and  Ashby 
now  reported  twenty-one  companies.  There  was  still  no 
regimental  formation,  and  his  large  brigade  with  only  two 
field  officers  was  an  unwieldy  body.  There  was  no  regi 
mental  drill,  and  no  action  as  regiments  in  the  field  or 
elsewhere.  It  was  more  like  a  tribal  band  held  together 
by  the  authority  of  a  single  chief. 

Increase  of  numbers  rather  diminished  than  increased  its 
efficiency  as  a  whole,  and  made  it  more  unmanageable. 
Jackson  saw  the  evil  and  tried  to  correct  it. 

The  constant  demand  for  Ashby's  presence  on  the  enemy's 
front,  and  the  absence  of  so  many  of  his  companies  on 
detached  service,  had  hitherto  proved  a  serious  obstacle  to 
reform,  but  at  Swift  Run  Gap  Jackson  took  summary 
proceedings. 

Eleven  companies  of  the  Ashby  cavalry  were  ordered  to 
report  to  Brigadier-General  Taliaferro  and  to  be  attached 
to  his  command.  The  rest  were  ordered  to  report  to 
General  Winder.  For  Ashby  was  reserved  the  honor  of 
commanding  the  advance  and  rear  guards,  with  authority 
to  call  for  portions  of  his  command  as  necessity  required. 
The  effect  of  this  order,  was  to  virtually  deprive  Ashby  of 


52  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

his  command.  But  what  followed  is  best  told  in  Jackson's 
own  words.  In  a  letter  to  Colonel  Taylor,  Lee's  assistant 
adjutant-general,  of  date  May  5th,  1862,  Jackson  says: 
"I  so  felt  the  importance  of  having  the  cavalry  of  this 
district  more  thoroughly  organized,  drilled,  and  disciplined 
as  to  induce  me  to  take  action  in  the  matter;  but  Colonel 
Ashby  claimed  that  I  could  not  interfere  with  his  organiza 
tion,  as  he  was  acting  under  the  instructions  of  the  late 
Secretary  of  War,  Mr.  Benjamin.  *  *  *  When  I  took 
steps  for  organizing,  drilling,  and  disciplining  the  cavalry, 
both  of  its  field  officers  sent  in  their  resignations ;  and  such 
was  Colonel  Ashby's  influence  over  his  command  that  I 
became  well  satisfied  that  if  I  persisted  in  my  attempt  to 
increase  the  efficiency  of  the  cavalry,  it  would  produce  the 
contrary  effect,  as  Colonel  Ashby's  influence,  who  is  very 
popular  with  his  men,  would  be  thrown  against  me.  Under 
these  circumstances,  I  refrained  taking  further  action  in 
the  matter  (as  I  was  in  the  face  of  the  enemy),  until  the 
War  Department  should  have  an  opportunity  of  acting  in 
the  case.  At  present  there  is  no  field  officer  on  duty  with 
the  cavalry  referred  to,  as  Colonel  Ashby  and  Major 
Funsten  are  both  sick." 

This  letter,  written  from  Staunton,  explains  why  Jackson 
about  ten  days  before  had  reinstated  Ashby  in  his  command. 

It  is  true  that  Ashby's  mode  of  fighting  and  managing 
his  command,  was  quite  at  variance  with  West  Point 
methods,  but  this  was  to  be  expected,  both  on  account  of 
the  rapid  increase  of  his  force  from  raw  recruits,  and  the 
active  field  service  demanded,  and  also  from  the  irregular 
nature  of  the  service. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  53 

Jackson  kept  Ashby  so  busy  fighting  the  enemy  night  and 
day,  that  he  had  no  time  to  give  to  the  details  of  organiza 
tion. 

Then,  too,  it  may  be  said  of  Ashby's  method,  that  it  was 
most  likely  the  best  under  the  circumstances.  He  taught 
his  men  that  war  meant  getting  close  to  the  enemy,  and 
requiring  him  to  fight  for  every  foot  of  the  ground  he 
attempted  to  advance  upon;  a  lesson,  if  choice  had  to  be 
made,  of  far  more  importance  than  dress  parades  and 
regimental  maneuvers.  At  any  rate,  his  mode  of  fighting 
had  the  desired  effect  of  beating  the  enemy  in  small  as  well 
as  in  large  affairs,  and  at  the  same  time  of  attracting  the 
chivalry  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  to  his  standard. 

On  the  evening  of  April  3Oth,  General  Ewell  arrived  at 
Swift  Run  Gap  with  an  aggregate  force  of  8,000  men.  A 
few  hours  before  Jackson  had  broken  camp  and,  ascending 
the  right  bank  of  the  Shenandoah  to  Port  Republic,  crossed 
the  river  through  Brown's  Gap,  and  thence  marched  to 
Staunton  along  the  line  of  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad. 

In  the  meantime  Ashby's  cavalrymen  were  busy  among 
the  Federal  outposts,  keeping  Banks  in  constant  expectation 
of  an  attack,  and  acting  as  a  screen  to  Jackson's  movements. 

But,  in  some  way,  news  of  Ewell's  arrival  and  Jackson's 
departure  reached  Banks,  and  he  felt  sure  that  Jackson  was 
coming  by  way  of  Thornton's  Gap  to  attack  his  rear.  He 
at  once  broke  camp  and  fell  back  to  New  Market.  Ashby, 
with  eleven  companies,  remained  to  make  demonstrations 
upon  Banks'  front  and  to  mask  Jackson's  movement  against 
Milroy,  while  the  other  companies  went  with  Jackson,  who 
was  now  on  his  way  to  McDowell. 

Lee  had  directed  Jackson  to  assume  an  offensive  course, 
but  his  movements  were  left  to  his  own  discretion. 


54  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Fearing  a  union  of  Banks'  and  Fremont's  forces,  he 
determined  to  fight  them  in  detail,  and  to  make  his  first 
attack  upon  Fremont. 

Leaving  Ewell  with  8,000  troops  in  the  Luray  Valley, 
on  the  7th  of  May  Jackson  left  Staunton,  where  his  com 
mand  had  halted  to  rest  for  a  day,  and  making  a  junction 
with  Genl.  Edward  Johnson  west  of  Staunton,  marched 
against  Milroy,  who  was  at  McDowell. 

The  cavalry  that  accompanied  Jackson  on  this  expedition, 
did  little  else  but  capture  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  at  different 
points  blockade  the  roads  leading  to  Jackson's  rear  by 
felling  trees  across  them. 

While  Jackson  was  marching  west  in  search  of  Milroy, 
Banks  pushed  his  cavalry  advance  as  far  as  Harrisonburg. 
Here,  May  7th,  quite  a  spirited  skirmish  with  Ashby's 
horsemen  occurred. 

In  his  report  of  this,  General  Banks  says :  "The  enemy 
does  not  show  himself  except  by  cavalry.  *  *  *  His 
chief  object  will  doubtless  be  to  prevent  a  junction  of  forces 
on  this  line  with  General  McDowell." 

Evidently  he,  ignorant  of  Jackson's  designs,  thought  the 
Confederates  intended  to  abandon  the  Valley.  A  like 
impression  prevailed  at  Washington,  and  when  Shields,  with 
his  division,  was  shortly  afterwards  ordered  to  cross  the 
ridge  and  join  the  forces  of  General  McDowell,  Banks  was 
ordered  to  fall  back  to  Strasburg,  so  as  to  be  able  to  leave 
the  Valley  on  short  notice  and  aid  McDowell  if  necessary. 

When  Banks  found  that  he  might  probably  be  left  alone 
to  confront  Jackson,  he  began  to  change  his  opinion  as  to 
the  designs  of  Stonewall.  He  made  frequent  requests  for 
aid,  but  nothing  could  shake  the  purpose  of  the  Federal 
administration. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  55 

The  demonstrations  on  McDowell's  front  created  alarm 
at  Washington,  and  the  Federal  authorities  might  almost  be 
accused  of  leaving  Banks  in  the  Valley,  as  a  bait  to  keep 
Jackson  from  uniting  his  forces  with  those  in  front  of 
McDowell. 

Jackson,  even  while  pursuing  Milroy,  feared  that  Banks 
would  get  away  before  he  returned.  But  he  defeated  Milroy 
and  then  began  to  retrace  his  steps. 

The  fruit  of  Kernstown  was  now  to  be  plucked  by  Stone 
wall.  His  audacity  there  in  attacking  a  force  so  superior 
in  numbers,  had  caused  his  enemies  now  to  suspect  him 
capable  of  any  bold  and  unusual  enterprise. 

General  McDowell  (May  loth)  writes  that  Jackson  is  in 
his  front.  Schenck  at  Franklin,  nearly  100  miles  distant, 
is  positive  that  Jackson  is  trying  to  get  in  his  rear,  while 
Fremont  is  equally  sure  that  Jackson  is  going  west. 

Of  course,  from. these  conflicting  accounts,  the  authorities 
at  Washington  remained  in  dense  ignorance  and  fear  of 
Jackson's  designs. 

Much  of  Jackson's  success  is  justly  attributed  to  the 
secrecy  of  his  movements.  His  rapid  action  and  closeness 
of  counsel,  joined  to  a  bold  strategy,  had  much  to  do  with 
the  mystery  that  enveloped  his  actions,  but  not  a  little  of 
that  secrecy  and  mystery  was  due  to  the  impenetrable  veil 
created  by  the  cordon  of  pickets  maintained  by  Ashby,  and 
the  audacious  demonstrations  of  his  cavalry. 

This  was  only  possible  where  there  were  great  activity, 
and  sleepless  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  cavalry  detach 
ments,  joined  to  their  uniform  successes  over  the  foe  in  the 
numerous  skirmishes. 


56  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

While  Jackson  is  away  beyond  the  Shenandoah  moun 
tains,  Ashby  is  busy  with  the  companies  left  him  in  screen 
ing  the  movements  of  his  chief. 

May  loth  Ashby  writes  from  Lacy  Springs  to  Maj. 
James  Barbour,  Ewell's  adjutant-general :  "You  will  please 
inform  the  General  (Ewell)  that  I  have  moved  to  this 
point  on  my  way  from  New  Market  to  Luray,  but  will  wait 
until  my  companies  with  General  Jackson,  expected  today, 
come  up.  *  *  *  I  thought  it  best  not  to  leave  this  road 
until  I  had  followed  their  column  as  far  as  Strasburg,  so 
as  to  cause  them  to  believe  you  were  behind  them  upon  this 
road." 

In  the  last  sentence  we  get  a  glimpse  of  Ashby' s  idea  of 
his  duty  as  the  leader  of  Jackson's  cavalry;  namely,  to  so 
use  it  that  the  movement  of  the  main  body  should  be 
effectually  hidden  from  the  enemy. 

Whatever  he  did  was  without  reference  to  selfish  ends. 

We  find  him  never  attempting  a  brilliant  raid  for  personal 
glory.  Though  always  close  to  the  foe  and  worrying  them 
in  a  thousand  ways,  it  is  solely  to  further  what  he  conceives 
to  be  the  plan  of  his  commanding  officer. 

On  Sunday  morning,  May  i8th,  Jackson  rested  after  his 
long  march  from  Franklin  at  Mt.  Solon.  Ewell  rode  across 
the  Valley  and  joined  him  here.  In  the  interview  that 
occurred  between  them  it  was  resolved  to  go  quickly  and 
assail  General  Banks'  army. 

Fearing,  if  they  attacked  him  by  marching  down  the 
Valley  turnpike,  he  would  retreat  to  Strasburg  and  thence 
to  McDowell's  army,  they  determined  to  head  him  off  by 
delivering  the  first  blow  at  Front  Royal. 

Success  depended  on  secrecy,  and  secrecy  on  the  activity 
and  faithfulness  of  the  cavalry  in  front  of  Banks. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  57 

So  well  was  the  movement  hid  by  Ashby's  cavalry  that 
Jackson  had  reached  Front  Royal,  routed  and  captured  the 
force  there  before  General  Banks  heard  a  word  about  it. 
And  when  a  messenger  in  hot  haste  brought  him  the  news, 
it  was  not  credited,  so  confident  was  the  Federal  general 
that  Jackson  was  on  his  front. 

Jackson,  with  his  division  and  that  of  Genl.  Edward 
Johnson,  followed  the  Valley  turnpike  to  New  Market.  Here 
he  turned  to  the  right  and,  passing  through  New  Market 
Gap  in  Massanutton  Mountain,  crossed  the  Shenandoah 
River  at  Columbia  bridge  and  united  his  column  with 
Ewell's,  that  had  marched  down  the  Luray  Valley. 

The  Confederates  went  from  Columbia  bridge  straight 
towards  Front  Royal,  until  within  four  and  a  half  miles  of 
the  town,  when  they  turned  from  the  main  road  and 
followed  one  that  approached  the  place  from  the  south.  At 
Spangler's  crossroads  the  cavalry  under  Ashby  and  Flournoy 
were  sent  to  destroy  communications  between  Strasburg 
and  Front  Royal. 

A  short  distance  beyond  the  river  Ashby  and  Flournoy 
separated,  the  former  taking  a  more  western  course,  while 
Flournoy  kept  on  so  as  to  strike  the  railroad  near  Front 
Royal  and  come  around  in  the  rear  of  the  Federal  garrison. 

Ashby  moved  towards  Buckton  Station,  between  Front 
Royal  and  Strasburg,  a  point  of  importance,  and  guarded 
by  three  companies  of  Federal  infantry. 

Upon  discovering  his  approach,  the  Federals  quickly 
took  shelter  in  the  depot  building  and  the  outhouses  of  a 
Mr.  Jenkins. 

Thus  protected  they  made  a  spirited  defense.  Their 
musket  volleys  poured  into  the  ranks  of  the  grey  horsemen 
were  not  without  effect,  but  the  continued  persistence  of 


58  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

the  mounted  men  finally  ended  all  resistance.  The  station 
was  taken  and  the  Federals  were  captured  or  driven  off. 

The  victory,  however,  was  dearly  bought,  for  two  of 
Ashby's  best  captains  fell  mortally  wounded — Fletcher  and 
Sheetz. 

In  the  meantime  Front  Royal  had  been  taken  by  Jackson. 

The  Federal  garrison,  consisting  of  Colonel  Kenly's  First 
Maryland  Infantry  and  two  companies  of  the  New  York 
cavalry,  retreated  across  the  North  and  South  Forks  of  the 
Shenandoah,  A  short  distance  beyond  the  latter,  they  were 
overtaken  by  Colonel  Flournoy's  cavalry.  The  rear  guard 
made  but  a  feeble  resistance,  then  broke  and  fled.  The 
infantry  made  a  brief  stand,  but  upon  Flournoy's  men 
charging  among  them,  they  also  soon  gave  way. 

Company  B,  Captain  Grimsly,  charged  directly  up  the 
turnpike  supported  by  Company  E;  Colonel  Flournoy  on 
the  left,  and  Companies  A  and  K  on  the  right. 

Colonel  Kenly  made  a  gallant  effort  to  rally  his  men  in 
an  orchard.  Here  for  a  few  minutes  stout  resistance  was 
made,  but  the  progress  of  the  Confederates  was  not  stopped. 
Charging  boldly  among  the  infantry  they  attacked  them 
furiously  with  sabre  and  pistol,  Stonewall  himself  near  the 
front  urging  them  on. 

Colonel  Kenly  fell  badly  wounded;  his  men  broke  and 
fled  and  the  retreat  of  the  Federals  soon  became  a  wild 
rout. 

As  the  result  of  this  day's  fight  750  prisoners  were 
captured;  also  two  parrot  guns  and  nearly  all  the  enemy's 
wagon  train. 

Jackson  camped  at  Cedarville  that  night  and  waited  for 
the  rest  of  his  forces.  Ewell's  division  arrived  about  dark. 
Jackson's  old  division  and  that  of  Genl.  Edward  Johnson, 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  59 

weary  with  their  long  march  from  Franklin,  120  miles 
distant,  got  no  further  than  Front  Royal. 

Banks  was  still  at  Strasburg.  A  courier  despatched  from 
Front  Royal  had  ridden  around  the  cavalry  pickets  of  the 
Confederates  and  carried  the  information  that  Jackson  in 
heavy  force  was  at  Front  Royal. 

Banks  refused  to  believe  the  messenger. 

Firmly  convinced  that  Jackson's  main  body  was  still  in 
his  front  on  the  turnpike,  and  that  the  attacking  force  at 
Front  Royal  was  only  a  raiding  body  of  cavalry,  he  took 
no  steps  to  retreat  until  despatches  were  received  from 
Winchester  from  fugitives  who  had  come  from  Front  Royal. 

His  persistence  in  believing  that  the  Confederate  main 
body  was  south  of  him  was  probably  due  to  a  demonstra 
tion  made  in  that  quarter  by  a  small  body  of  the  Ashby 
cavalry  under  Capt.  Sam  Myers.  With  his  own  company 
and  those  of  Capt.  E.  H.  McDonald  and  Capt.  William 
Harness,  he  had  boldly  driven  in  the  Federal  pickets  and 
erected  breastworks  on  the  hills  near  Strasburg  in  sight  of 
Banks'  army.  Moving  his  troops  about  from  point  to  point 
partly  in  view  of  the  Federals,  he  created  the  impression 
that  he  was  supported  by  a  large  force. 

That  the  demonstration  had  the  effect  intended  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  even  after  hearing  from  Winchester  General 
Banks  did  not  abandon  Strasburg  until  he  had  sent  out  a 
cavalry  force  towards  Woodstock  and  learned  that  the 
driving  in  of  his  pickets  and  the  bold  display  of  the  Ashby 
cavalry  was  a  "take  in." 

After  resting  all  night  at  Cedarville,  Jackson  in  the 
morning  set  out  to  find  and  assail  the  foe. 

Not  knowing  which  way  General  Banks  would  retreat, 
whether  by  Strasburg  or  Winchester,  Jackson  planned  to 


60  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

intercept  him  by  either  road.  In  his  official  report  he  says : 
"In  order  to  watch  both  directions  and  at  the  same  time 
advance  upon  him  if  he  remained  in  Strasburg,  I  deter 
mined  with  the  main  body  of  the  army  to  strike  the  Valley 
turnpike  near  Middletown,  a  village  five  miles  north  of 
Strasburg  and  thirteen  south  of  Winchester." 

As  the  column  moved  towards  Middletown,  Ashby  led 
the  advance  supported  by  skirmishers  from  Taylor's  brigade, 
with  Chew's  Battery  and  two  parrot  guns  from  the  Rock- 
bridge  Artillery. 

Ashby  was  directed  to  keep  scouts  on  his  left  in  order  to 
prevent  Banks  from  passing  unobserved  to  Front  Royal. 

Some  time  before  Genl.  George  Stuart,  temporarily  in 
command  of  the  Sixth  and  Second  Virginia  Cavalry,  had 
been  sent  to  Newtown,  a  village  five  miles  north  of  Middle- 
town,  to  observe  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 

While  Jackson  was  thus  preparing  to  confront  Banks, 
the  latter,  whom  Jackson  describes  in  one  of  his  letters  as  a 
"cautious"  man,  was  making  great  speed  down  the  turn 
pike.  It  was  a  race  between  the  fresh  troops  of  the  Federals 
and  the  footsore  Confederates;  a  race,  too,  in  which  the 
Federals  had  several  hours'  start. 

General  Banks  was  long  in  making  up  his  mind,  but  the 
conclusion  once  formed  he  acted  promptly,  and  his  retreat 
ing  column  moved  rapidly. 

By  the  time  Jackson's  advance  reached  Middletown  all 
the  Federal  infantry  had  passed  and  were  nearly  to  Win 
chester. 

When  near  Middletown  Ashby  discovered  that  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  2,000  strong,  was  rapidly  retreating,  only 
trains  and  a  large  body  of  cavalry  being  seen. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  61 

Ashby,  with  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  ordering  three  guns 
of  Chew's  Battery  to  follow  him,  swooped  down  on  their 
right  like  an  eagle.  The  guns  moved  with  the  cavalry,  and 
unlimbered  within  a  few  hundred  feet  of  the  retreating 
colu'mn,  and  opened  on  them  with  canister.  Soon  the  road 
was  so  blockaded  with  dead  men  and  horses  that  those  in 
rear  could  not  pass.,  and  an  indescribable  scene  of  carnage 
and  confusion  ensued.  The  main  body  of  the  Federals 
escaped  in  detachments  across  the  fields  westward. 

General  Jackson,  in  his  official  report  referring  to  this 
incident,  says :  "In  a  few  moments  the  turnpike,  which  just 
before  had  teemed  with  life,  presented  a  most  appalling 
spectacle  of  carnage  and  destruction.  The  road  was  literally 
obstructed  with  the  mingled  and  confused  mass  of  strug 
gling  and  dying  horses  and  riders.  Amongst  the  survivors 
the  wildest  confusion  ensued,  and  they  scattered  in  disorder 
in  various  directions,  leaving  some  200  prisoners  in  the 
hands  of  the  Confederates." 

Ashby  then  pursued  the  enemy  with  the  utmost  vigor  to 
Newtown,  fighting  his  guns  upon  the  skirmish  line,  and  with 
the  greatest  boldness  and  audacity  he  pressed  the  enemy 
through  the  whole  night.  The  morning  following,  he  was 
at  the  head  of  Jackson's  column,  and  after  the  battle  of 
Winchester,  followed  the  enemy  on  the  turnpike  until  dark. 

Dabney,  in  his  "Life  of  Jackson,"  says  Ashby  went  off 
on  an  independent  expedition  towards  Berryville,  and  sub 
sequent  historians,  including  Henderson,  have  fallen  into 
this  error.  It  is  thoroughly  attested  by  soldiers  who  were 
with  him  at  the  time,  that,  at  no  time  was  Ashby  anywhere 
during  this  particular  conflict,  except  at  the  head  of  Jack 
son's  army  on  the  Valley  turnpike. 


62  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  Federal  column  was  effectually  sundered,  the  rear 
retiring  towards  Strasburg,  though  not  until  after  a  gallant 
effort  was  made  to  cut  its  way  through  towards  Winchester. 

Jackson  halted  his  force  at  Middletown  until  he  could 
ascertain  whether  the  Federal  main  body  had  passed  or  not. 
Upon  learning  that  it  had  he  pressed  on  towards  Winchester. 

In  the  battle  of  Winchester,  which  occurred  May  25th, 
Ashby,  with  the  few  cavalry  with  him,  took  position  on 
Jackson's  left. 

It  has  been  claimed  that  the  small  number  of  the  Ashby 
cavalry  present  for  duty  at  this  battle  was  due  to  the  fact 
that  they  stopped  the  pursuit  in  order  to  plunder  the  captured 
trains. 

This  was  in  part  true,  but  the  same  may  be  said  of  many 
of  the  infantry,  as  Jackson  bears  witness  in  his  report. 

The  true  reason  was,  that  Ashby  had  only  a  small  part 
of  his  command  with  him  when  he  reached  Middletown, 
the  greater  number  of  his  men  being  engaged  in  picketing 
the  roads  leading  to  Jackson's  line  of  march  from 
McDowell,  and  many  were  detailed  to  guard  prisoners. 
After  the  battle  at  Winchester,  Ashby,  notwithstanding  his 
small  force,  kept  up  the  pursuit  to  Martinsburg. 

It  would  seem  that  a  vindication  is  due  to  Ashby  as  to 
the  commonly  accepted  statement  contained  in  Dabney's 
"Life  of  Jackson,"  and  quoted  later  by  Henderson  in  his 
"Stonewall  Jackson  and  the  American  Civil  War,"  that  at 
the  time  of  Banks'  defeat  at  Winchester,  Ashby  was  off  on 
an  independent  expedition,  and  not  present  on  the  turnpike 
in  pursuit,  and  also  as  to  the  alleged  plundering  of  the 
wagon  trains  by  his  cavalrymen.  Such  vindication  is  amply 
found  in  a  letter  of  Col.  R.  P.  Chew  to  Rev.  Jas.  B.  Avirett, 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  63 

found  in  his  "Ashby  and  His  Compeers,"  page  269,  here 
quoted  in  part  by  permission  of  the  author — 

"CHARLES  TOWN,  W.  VA.,  Jan.  i8th,  1867. 

REV.  J.  B.  AVIRETT. 

DEAR  SIR: —  *  *  *  With  reference  to  the  affair  refer 
red  to  by  Dr.  Dabney,  I  will  give  you  a  statement  of  the  facts 
as  far  as  my  observation  and  knowledge  extend.  General 
Ashby  followed  the  infantry  of  General  Jackson  with  a  detach 
ment  of  his  cavalry,  a  portion  of  it  having  been  sent  down  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  to  confront  the  enemy  at  Strasburg.  I 
accompanied  him  with  my  guns.  He  diverged  from  the  Front 
Royal  and  Luray  Road,  and  struck  the  railroad,  as  you  know, 
at  Buckton.  I  was  not  with  him  until  I  rejoined  the  head  of 
the  army  near  Cedarville.  Here  General  Ashby,  with  his  cav 
alry,  my  battery,  two  guns  of  Poague's  Battery  and  some 
infantry  skirmishers,  left  the  turnpike  and  pushed  for  Middle- 
town.  *  *  *  After  a  short  delay,  to  enable  his  force  to 
reach  its  destination  at  the  proper  time,  he  formed  his  skir 
mishers  and  advanced  rapidly  across  the  fields  to  the  lower  part 
of  the  town.  Here  he  encountered  a  considerable  force  of 
cavalry,  and  running  up  his  artillery  to  within  100  yards 
opened  on  the  Federals  with  artillery  and  small  arms.  The 
enemy  crowded  in  the  turnpike,  gave  way  and  retreated  in  all 
directions.  Ashby  dashed  in  among  them,  pistol  in  hand,  and 
captured  himself  many  prisoners.  Major  Funsten  in  the  mean 
time  had  reached  the  turnpike  below  Middletown,  perhaps  two 
miles,  and  forced  the  retreating  cavalry  of  the  enemy  towards 
the  Back  Road,  besides  capturing  a  large  wagon  train.  It  was 
here  that  our  cavalry  became  dispersed,  and  the  reasons  why 
Ashby  failed  to  have  his  cavalry  in  hand  next  morning,  as  I 
have  understood  them,  were  these:  The  cavalry  we  defeated 
at  Middletown  retreated  towards  North  Mountain  and  Win 
chester,  scattered,  in  fact  completely  routed.  Major  Funsten 
prevented  those  going  towards  Winchester  from  pursuing  their 
retreat  in  that  direction,  and  forced  them  to  retire  across  the 


64  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

hills,  as  I  said  before,  towards  the  Back  Road.  Our  cavalry  of 
course  pursued,  and  in  following  a  scattered  foe  became  dis 
persed  themselves. 

Ashby  pushed  on  with  my  guns  towards  Winchester,  and 
when  we  reached  the  point  where  Funsten  struck  the  turnpike, 
we  threw  the  guns  into  position,  and  Ashby  with  about  forty 
men  charged  a  line  of  the  enemy's  infantry  between  us  and 
Christman's  house. 

General  Ashby  had  started  from  New  Market  with  but  a 
part  of  his  cavalry.  They  had  marched  until  the  horses  were 
exhausted, — without  rest  day  or  night ;  and  when  the  enemy 
became  dispersed,  and  fled  in  the  greatest  confusion,  our  cav 
alry  scattered  in  pursuit  of  them.  Major  Funsten  had  but  a 
very  small  detachment  when  he  reached  him,  and  we  had 
passed  the  wagon  train  where  the  plundering  was  reported  to 
have  occurred,  and  the  cavalry  were  not  there,  and  unless  they 
returned  to  the  wagon  train  after  we  passed  it,  it  was  the 
infantry  and  not  the  cavalry  who  got  the  benefit  of  the  spoils. 
General  Ashby  pushed  the  enemy  with  his  small  force  of  cav 
alry  and  my  guns  through  Newtown,  and  until  dark,  when  we 
went  into  camp  to  feed  our  exhausted  horses,  having  pushed 
the  enemy  from  hill  to  hill  between  Middletown  and  Newtown. 

General  Jackson  now  pressed  forward  and  night  found  him 
before  the  enemy  at  Winchester.  *  *  *  General  Ashby 
was  with  General  Jackson  on  the  morning  of  the  battle  of  Win 
chester,  while  the  latter  was  engaged  in  planting  his  batteries. 

I  know  nothing  of  his  subsequent  action  until  after  the  battle. 

I  overtook  him  below  Stephenson's  depot,  dashing  upon  the 
enemy  whenever  an  opportunity  offered,  with  a  handful  of  his 
men. 

I  never  heard  of  any  independent  enterprise  of  General 
Ashby,  nor  do  I  believe  he  was  anywhere  but  at  the  front  of 
the  army  with  a  small  force  of  his  cavalry. 

The  rapidity  of  General  Jackson's  movements  added  to  the 
confusion  attending  the  march  of  a  large  army,  and  prevented 
our  cavalry  from  re-forming  quickly  after  they  had  scattered 
in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  on  different  roads  and  across  country. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  65 

I  always  believed  that  the  matter  was  misrepresented  to 
General  Jackson,  and  hence  his  severe  criticism  of  the  cavalry. 

It  was  certainly  unfortunate  for  Ashby  as  well  as  the  cause, 
that  more  of  his  men  were  not  with  him  on  that  day,  as  an 
excellent  opportunity  was  afforded  to  dash  upon  and  pursue 
the  enemy.  Yet  I  do  not  believe  he  was  to  blame  for  their 
absence. 

It  was  then  popular  to  say  that  Ashby  exercised  no  control 
over  his  men  beyond  personal  influence,  and  that  there  was  no 
discipline  in  his  command.  It  was  said  that  his  successes  were 
gained,  not  by  skillful  maneuver,  but  by  the  reckless  dash  and 
courage  of  himself  and  men;  but  I  will  do  him  the  justice  to 
say  that  he  could  always  command  more  men  for  duty  from 
the  same  muster-roll  than  any  cavalry  commander  under  whom 
I  have  sinced  served.  *  *  *  I  have  served  at  different 
times  during  the  war,  with  almost  all  the  prominent  cavalry 
leaders  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  I  have  never 
seen  one  who  possessed  the  ability  to  inspire  troops  under  fire 
with  the  courage  and  enthusiasm  that  Ashby's  presence  always 
excited. 

He  adopted  in  the  beginning  of  the  war  the  tactics  with 
cavalry  by  which,  later  in  the  war,  other  cavalry  commanders 
could  only  secure  success ;  namely,  always  to  meet  the  enemy 
with  bold  and  determined  charges,  and  when  they  were 
defeated  to  press  them  with  the  utmost  vigor." 

Jackson  had  ventured  far  and  the  Federals  were  gathering 
for  his  destruction.  It  was  necessary  to  retrace  his  steps 
somewhat  hurriedly  if  he  wished  to  save  the  spoils  of 
victory  and  avoid  defeat,  if  not  destruction. 

The  object  of  the  movement  which  was  to  arrest  the 
advance  on  Richmond  had  been  accomplished.  Besides, 
Banks  had  been  badly  beaten,  and  with  a  loss  of  one-third 
of  his  army  had  been  driven  across  the  Potomac. 

The  retreat  was  more  full  of  peril  to  Jackson's  army  than 
the  advance  had  been,  for  from  the  west  and  east  armies 


66  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

were  marching  to  cut  off  his  retreat,  while  from  the  north 
his  rear  would  be  threatened  by  a  force  superior  to  his  own. 

Jackson  did  not  hurry.  Four  days  after  the  battle  of 
Winchester,  on  the  29th  of  May,  he  laid  siege  to  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  occupied  the  Loudoun  heights  as  if  he  had  con 
cluded  to  move  on  Washington. 

Next  day,  on  the  3Oth,  he  began  to  retire  and  was  fol 
lowed  as  far  as  Charles  Town  by  Banks  and  Saxton  with 
14,000  Federals.  By  the  evening-  of  the  3ist,  his  main  body 
was  in  Strasburg,  where  he  halted  for  the  rear  of  his 
column  to  close  up. 

Fremont,  marching  from  Wardensville  and  making  for 
the  same  point,  had  encountered  Ashby..  Whatever  fault 
Jackson  might  find  with  his  cavalry  for  plundering,  he 
always  placed  them  on  guard  at  the  point  of  greatest 
danger. 

Ashby  was  soon  supported  by  Ewell,  and  the  advance  of 
Fremont  was  arrested. 

Meantime,  Jackson's  rear  column  was  closed  up,  and  he 
fell  back  to  Harrisonburg.  From  that  point  Jackson  retired 
to  Port  Republic,  which  was  twelve  miles  eastward.  In 
this  march,  it  was  Ashby' s  command  which,  picketing  and 
scouting  in  all  directions,  kept  Jackson  informed  as  to  the 
movements  of  the  enemy.  On  Shields'  front  towards  Front 
Royal  hung  Ashby' s  men.  In  the  path  too,  of  Fremont, 
as  we  have  seen,  were  they.  And  in  the  rear  of  Jackson 
nearly  all  the  time. 

On  the  2Oth  of  June  the  Sixth  and  Second  Virginia 
Cavalry  were  transferred  to  Ashby's  command,  and  for 
more  than  a  year  the  Sixth  remained  a  part  of  the  Ashby 
brigade. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  67 

On  Monday,  June  the  2nd,  Jackson  retreated  to  Mt. 
Jackson,  closely  followed  by  Fremont.  The  cavalry  under 
Ashby  protected  the  rear,  engaging  almost  constantly  in 
skirmishes  with  the  enemy. 

The  Federals  evidently  wanted  vengeance  for  Banks' 
disaster,  and  frequently  with  great  gallantry  charged  the 
Confederate  rear  guard. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  2nd,  Jackson  crossed  the  North 
Fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  the  cavalry  burning  the  bridge 
in  spite  of  the  efforts  of  the  Federals  to  prevent  it. 

On  the  5th  Jackson  reached  Harrisonburg.  The  next 
day  Fremont,  who  had  been  delayed  by  the  burning  of  the 
bridge  across  the  North  Fork,  was  close  at  hand. 

Jackson  withdrew  towards  Port  Republic  as  the  head  of 
the  Federal  column  approached.,  The  same  evening  Ashby 
was  attacked  by  the  Federal  cavalry  under  Percy  Wyndham, 
an  English  adventurer  and  soldier  of  fortune,  commanding 
the  First  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  wrho,  greedy  of  Ashby's 
fame,  wished 

"To  pluck  the  budding  honors  on  his  crest 
To  weave  them  on  his  own." 

He  openly  avowed  his  intention  of  capturing  Ashby,  and 
was  said  to  be  watching  an  opportunity  to  make  a  successful 
dash  for  that  purpose. 

Ashby  was,  however,  prepared  for  them,  and  as  they 
approached  his  line  of  battle  drawrn  up  across  the  road  and 
extending  into  the  fields,  some  dismounted  men  in  a  wheat- 
field,  stationed  there  for  that  purpose,  fired  into  the  flank 
of  the  Federal  column.  In  the  confusion  which  followed 
in  their  ranks,  Ashby 's  men  charged,  capturing  Wyndham 
and  the  colors  of  the  First  New  Jersey  Regiment,  and 


68  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

inflicting  an  acknowledged  loss  of  thirty-six  killed  and 
wounded  upon  the  Federals. 

This  repulse  caused  the  Federals  under  General  Bayard 
to  come  forward  with  reinforcements  of  all  arms.  Ashby 
anticipating  him,  asked  and  received  from  General  Ewell 
the  support  of  the  First  Maryland  and  Fifty-eighth  Virginia 
regiments  of  infantry. 

In  the  hotly  contested  fight  which  ensued  the  skirmish 
line  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Virginia  was  forced  back,  and 
Ashby  while  rallying  them,  having  ordered  in  the  reserve, 
had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  and  rising  and  leading  on 
foot  fell  himself,  pierced  by  a  bullet,  and  died  almost 
instantly.  His  death  at  the  morning  tide  of  his  fame,  with 
his  face  to  the  foe,  and  in  defense  of  his  beloved  country, 
was  such  as  he  would  have  wished  it  to  be,  and  in  perfect 
keeping  with  his  heroic  ideal. 

Beloved  and  idolized  by  his  command,  the  news  of  his 
death,  which  quickly  spread  among  the  men,  produced 
general  and  profound  sorrow,  which  was  mingled  with  a 
resolve  for  vengeance. 

While  the  admiration  of  Ashby's  prowess  had  extended 
even  to  the  enemy,  yet  the  news  of  his  death  encouraged 
greatly  the  opposing  Federal  cavalry,  and  was  hailed  by  the 
Federal  authorities  as  a  distinctive  loss  to  the  Confederate 
cause,  and,  as  to  the  Union  side,  equal  to  a  Federal  victory. 

On  June  7th  the  armies  of  both  Jackson  and  Fremont 
remained  comparatively  quiet.  The  latter  having  been 
roughly  handled  the  day  before,  its  commander  was  dis 
posed  to  even  more  than  his  usual  caution  and  characteristic 
indecision,  and  his  slowness  of  motion  gave  to  the  wearied 
Confederates  a  moment  of  enjoyable  repose. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  69 

But  Shields  was  approaching  Port  Republic  from  Luray 
by  a  road  on  the  east  side  of  the  South  Fork  of  the  Shen- 
andoah,  skirting  the  foothills  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 

He  seems  to  have  believed  that  Jackson  was  in  full  retreat 
before  Fremont,  and  accordingly  moved  his  forces  as 
rapidly  as  the  unfavorable  condition  of  the  road  would 
permit,  having  Tyler's  brigade  attended  by  considerable 
cavalry,  far  in  advance  of  his  main  body.  His  purpose  was 
to  make  a  dash  across  the  river  at  Port  Republic  and  destroy 
the  bridge  before  Jackson  could  reach  there,  and  thus  inter 
cept  his  retreat  eastward  across  the  mountain  through 
Brown's  Gap. 

The  plan  was  well  conceived,  and  that  the  execution  of 
it  was  not  a  success  was  more  due  to  the  blundering  good 
luck  on  the  part  of  the  Confederates  than  to  a  lack  of  enter 
prise  and  dash  on  the  part  of  the  Federals. 

The  cavalry  of  Shields,  with  one  gun  of  a  light  battery, 
actually  had  possession  of  the  eastern  end  of  the  bridge, 
Jackson  himself  having  dashed  across  it  in  advance  of  them, 
leaving  most  of  his  staff  behind  and  escaping  capture  him 
self  only  by  a  hairbreadth. 

The  Federals  were  driven  back  by  the  timely  arrival  of 
one  gun  of  a  battery  near  at  hand  and  a  battalion  of  infantry. 

Colonel  Munford,  who  with  the  Ashby  brigade  had  been 
operating  upon  the  flanks  of  Fremont,  now  arrived  and 
pursued  the  retreating  Federals  some  distance  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Conrad's  Store,  capturing  many  prisoners  and  much 
plunder,  and  occupied  the  rest  of  the  day  in  arresting 
Shields'  advance,  though  the  nature  of  the  country  did  not 
favor  cavalry  operations.1 

1Account  by  Genl.  T.  T.  Munford. 


/o  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Fremont  had  heard  the  sound  of  the  brief  cannonade  at 
Port  Republic  on  the  7th,  and  supposing  Shields  had  arrived 
there,  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  put  his  army  in  motion  and 
cautiously  advanced  in  that  direction,  but  soon  found  his 
progress  arrested  by  the  pickets  of  Swell's  division. 

Jackson  had  planned  that  Ewell  should  hold  Fremont  in 
check  on  the  west  side  of  the  Shenandoah,  while  he  with 
his  own  division  would  deal  with  Shields  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river. 

Ewell,  with  about  6,000  infantry,  five  batteries  of  artil 
lery,  and  500  cavalry,  was  opposing  his  adversary,  whose 
army  numbered  10,000  infantry,  with  eight  batteries  of 
artillery,  and  2,000  cavalry.2 

In  an  all-day  battle  near  Cross  Keys,  at  times  fought  with 
great  fierceness,  Ewell  was  victorious,  having  driven  back 
Fremont  and  camped  upon  the  field.  The  losses  on  both 
sides,  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  were  972,  of  which  the 
Federal  loss  was  684. 

The  cavalry  does  not  appear  to  have  been  heavily 
engaged. 

The  next  day,  June  the  9th,  was  fought  perhaps  the  most 
hotly  contested  battle  of  the  Valley  campaign,  at  Port 
Republic,  which,  says  Henderson  (Vol.  I,  page  385),  was 
the  most  costly  to  the  army  of  the  Valley  during  the  whole 
campaign.  Out  of  5,900  Confederates  engaged  804  were 
disabled.  The  Federal  losses  were  heavier,  being  1,001 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

The  ground  was  of  such  nature,  being  heavily  wooded  on 
both  sides  of  the  road,  that  the  cavalry  could  not  operate 
except  in  pursuit.  But  the  battery  of  Chew,  which  always 


2 Figures  given  by  Henderson,  Vol.  I,  page  368. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  71 

accompanied  the  Ashby  cavalry,  did  fine  service.  Being 
ordered  from  the  field  of  Cross  Keys  on  the  morning  of  the 
9th,  it  crossed  the  river  at  Port  Republic,  and  came  upon 
the  field  just  as  the  Stonewall  Brigade  was  being  driven 
back  with  heavy  loss  by  Tyler's  Federal  brigade,  and  under 
the  heavy  fire  of  a  Federal  battery  well  and  strongly  posted 
on  an  eminence  near  the  Lewis  house. 

The  gunners  of  Chew's  Battery  promptly  got  the  range 
of  this  battery  and  poured  upon  it  a  terrific  enfilading  fire, 
crippling  the  enemy's  guns,  just  at  the  time  that  Taylor's 
brigade  of  infantry  had  moved  around  through  the  forest 
and  attacked  it  and  its  infantry  support  in  front  and  flank. 

Taylor's  brigade  charged  through  the  battery  and  cap 
tured  it. 

Chew's  Battery  then  moved  rapidly  to  a  position  near  the 
Lewis  house,  and  opened  upon  the  retreating  columns  of 
the  enemy,  producing  great  havoc  amongst  them,  and  joined 
in  the  pursuit  for  about  two  miles. 

The  cavalry  led  by  Munford  now  dashed  upon  the  retreat 
ing  Federals  and  pursued  them  for  nine  miles,  when  the 
pursuit  was  arrested  near  Conrad's  Store  by  the  presence 
of  Shields,  who  had  arrived  there  with  his  main  force  of 
two  brigades,  which  were  deployed  in  line  of  battle. 

Fremont,  after  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  aid  Shields  by 
throwing  a  few  shells  from  his  batteries  east  of  the  river, 
and  witnessing  Shields'  discomfiture,  retired  to  a  point 
north  of  Harrisonburg.  Shields  withdrew  to  Luray. 

The  cavalry  brigade  continued  to  watch  both  armies,  the 
large  part  with  Chew's  Battery  crossing  to  the  east  side  of 
the  river  for  the  purpose  of  observing  Fremont. 


CHAPTER  III 

June,    1802 

Jackson  marches  from  Brown's  Gap  to  the  Chickahominy — His  ingeni 
ous  ruses  to  deceive  Shields  and  Fremont — Munford  screens  Jack 
son's  movement  and  follows  him  with  the  Second  Virginia  Cavalry 
— Genl.  Beverly  Robertson  succeeds  in  command  of  Valley  cavalry 
— Reorganization  of  the  Ashby  cavalry — Robertson  an  organizer 
and  disciplinarian — Brigade  leaves  Valley  and  joins  Jackson  near 
Richmond,  July  loth,  Company  B  of  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry  being 
left  in  the  Valley — Fighting  at  Gordonsville  and  Cedar  Run — Genl. 
J.  E.  B.  Stuart  leads  cavalry  in  a  reconnoissance — Brandy  Station — 
Catlett's  Station — Thoroughfare  Gap — Sudley  Road  fight  and  death 
of  Major  Patrick — Second  Manassas  campaign — Advance  into 
Maryland — Robertson  assigned  to  Department  of  North  Carolina, 
and  Munford  again  commands  the  brigade — Poolesville  and  Cramp- 
ton's  Gap — Affair  at  Darksville — Capture  of  Harper's  Ferry — 
Brigade  covers  Lee's  recrossing  of  Potomac — Raid  into  Pennsylva 
nia — Col.  William  E.  Jones  takes  command — Various  skirmishes 
in  the  Valley — White's  Battalion  attached  to  brigade — Snickers  Gap 
and  Castleman's  Ferry — Company  D  of  the  Eleventh  at  Romney, 
and  capture  of  Capt.  E.  H.  McDonald — General  Jones  in  command 
of  the  Valley  District — Expedition  to  Moorefield — Scarcity  of  forage 
— Midwinter  diversions  in  the  Valley. 

After  defeating  Shields  at  Port  Republic,  Jackson  with 
drew  into  Brown's  Gap  in  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains,  and 
there  rested  his  footsore  and  battle-worn  soldiers  until  June 
1 7th.  On  that  day,  receiving  orders  from  General  Lee,  he 
broke  camp  and  marched  towards  the  Chickahominy,  where 
he  arrived  in  time  to  join  the  commander-in-chief  in  the 
famous  Seven  Days'  Battles  before  Richmond,  in  which 
McClellan  and  his  myriads  were  beaten  and  driven  with 
great  loss  to  the  cover  of 'his  gunboats. 

So  successfully  was  the  movement  of  Jackson  screened 
from  the  doughty  Federal  generals  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  73 

that  between  the  I7th  and  28th  of  June  he  had  made  the 
march  from  Brown's  Gap  to  near  Richmond,  130  miles,  and 
had  been  successfully  participating  in  the  defeat  of 
McClellan  for  two  days  before  either  Shields,  Fremont, 
Banks,  or  even  the  authorities  at  Washington  were  aware 
that  he  had  moved  from  the  scene  of  his  late  victory  over 
Shields  near  Port  Republic. 

The  success  of  this  movement  depended  primarily  upon  its 
being  hidden  from  the  observation  and  knowledge  of  the 
enemy.  That  duty  devolved  upon  the  cavalry  and  was  per 
formed  with  eminent  skill  and  resourcefulness  by  Col. 
Thomas  T.  Munford,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
Jackson's  cavalry  after  the  death  of  the  lamented  Ashby. 

Referring  to  this,  says  Henderson  in  his  '"'Stonewall  Jack 
son  and  the  American  Civil  War"  :  "The  cavalry,  though 
far  from  support,  was  ordered  to  maneuver  boldly  to  pre 
vent  all  information  reaching  the  Federals,  and  to  follow 
Fremont  as  long  as  he  retreated. 

"The  bearers  of  flags  of  truce  were  impressed  with  the 
idea  that  the  Southerners  were  advancing  with  great 
strength.  The  outpost  line  was  made  as  close  as  possible; 
no  civilians  were  allowed  to  pass,  and  the  Confederate 
troopers,  in  order  that  they  should  have  nothing  to  tell  if 
they  were  captured,  were  kept  in  ignorance  of  the  position  of 
the  infantry. 

"Jackson's  real  intention  was  concealed  from  every  one 
except  Colonel  Munford.  The  officers  of  his  staff  fared 
worse  than  the  remainder  of  the  army.  Not  only  were  they 
debarred  from  their  commander's  confidence,  but  they 
became  the  unconscious  instruments  whereby  false  intelli 
gence  was  spread.  The  engineers  were  directed  to  prepare  a 


74  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

series  of  maps  of  the  Valley;  and  all  who  acquired  a  knowl 
edge  of  this  carefully  divulged  order  told  their  friends  in 
confidence  that  Jackson  was  going  in  pursuit  of  Fremont. 
As  these  friends  told  their  friends  without  loss  of  time,  it 
was  soon  the  well-settled  conviction  of  everybody  that  noth 
ing  was  further  from  Jackson's  intention  than  an  evacuation 
of  the  Valley." 

After  masking  Jackson's  eastward  movement,  Colonel 
Munford  returned  from  the  pursuit  of  Shields,  and  receiving 
orders  from  Jackson  to  follow  him  to  the  Chickahominy 
with  his  regiment,  the  Second  Virginia  Cavalry,  he  turned 
over  command  of  the  Ashby  brigade,  which  had  just  been 
reorganized,  to  Col.  Beverly  Robertson,  a  West  Pointer, 
who  undertook  to  inaugurate  for  it  a  discipline  more  in  keep 
ing  with  West  Point  ideals  than  it  had  heretofore  known. 
No  curtailment  of  personal  liberty  either  of  civilian  or  soldier 
is  accepted  without  protest,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  that 
Colonel  Robertson's  discipline  did  not  make  him  especially 
popular  with  soldiers  who  had  followed  Ashby,  and  looked 
upon  the  suggestion  of  needed  discipline  as  a  reflection  upon 
their  fighting  qualities.  So  it  became  the  popular  sentiment 
among  the  men  that  Robertson  was  more  at  drilling  than  he 
was  at  fighting. 

Nevertheless  the  brigade  did  some  splendid  fighting  under 
him  in  the  campaign  against  Pope,  which  shortly  followed, 
and  for  which  both  the  brigade  and  the  commander  received 
high  praise  in  official  reports  of  that  campaign.  It  is  well 
known,  however,  that  the  brigade  won  fame  for  the  com 
mander  and  not  the  commander  for  the  brigade,  and  that 
Robertson,  not  being  a  capable  commander  in  the  field,  was 
soon  after  that,  at  the  suggestion  of  General  Stuart,  relieved 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  75 

of  the  command  of  the  brigade  and  sent  to  South  Carolina  to 
organize  the  cavalry  for  which  he  was  particularly  fitted. 

Munford,  with  the  Second  Virginia  Cavalry,  overtook 
Jackson  at  Ashland,  and  led  his  advance  every  day  in  the 
Seven  Days'  Battles  around  Richmond. 

The  Ashby  brigade,  including  Chew's  Battery,  now  under 
Colonel  Robertson,  being  left  for  a  time  to  observe  the 
movements  of  the  Federals  in  die  Valley,  moved  east  of  the 
Shenandoah  to  near  Harrisonburg,  Fremont  having  retired 
to  a  short  distance  north  of  that  place,  and  Shields  occupy 
ing  Luray. 

Here  a  partial  reorganization  of  the  brigade  was  under 
taken.  The  twenty-six  companies  that  had  composed  the 
command  of  Ashby  were  still  known  as  the  "Seventh  Regi 
ment,"  and  though  numerically  of  brigade  proportions,  had 
been  commanded  by  only  two  field  officers,  Genl.  Turner 
Ashby  and  Maj.  Oliver  Funsten. 

Although  Ashby  had  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brig 
adier-general  on  May  the  27th,  the  campaign  had  been  too 
active  under  him  to  allow  time  for  reorganization. 

The  overgrown  Seventh  Regiment  was  now  reduced  to 
the  ten  original  companies.  Ten  other  companies  composed 
the  Twelfth  Regiment,  and  the  remaining  companies  were 
formed  into  the  Seventeenth  Battalion. 

An  election  of  officers  now  took  place.  While  the  regi 
mental  officers  now  elected,  were  preferred  by  the  men  for 
gallant  and  skillful  services  under  Ashby,  and  were  most 
capable  and  well  qualified  for  commanders,  yet,  owing  either 
to  General  Jackson's  not  recommending  them,  or  to  the  War 
Department's  arbitrary  overruling  of  the  elections  for  rea- 


76  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

sons  known  only  to  the  officials,  they  did  not  receive  com 
missions. 

The  reorganization  was  completed  a  few  days  later 
between  Conrad's  Store  and  Swift  Run  Gap,  when  Col. 
William  E.  Jones,  late  of  the  First  Virginia  Cavalry,  was 
appointed  colonel  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  Capt.  Richard 
Dulaney  lieutenant-colonel,  and  Capt.  Thomas  Marshall 
major.  Col.  Asher  W.  Harman  was  appointed  colonel  of 
the  Twelfth;  Lieut.  Richard  Burks,  late  adjutant  of  the 
Second  Virginia  Cavalry,  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel, 
and  Capt.  Thomas  B.  Massie  major.  Capt.  William  Patrick 
was  appointed  major  of  the  Seventeenth  Battalion. 

The  Second  Virginia  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Munford. 
and  the  Sixth  Virginia,  under  Colonel  Flournoy,  which  had 
been  under  Genl.  George  H.  Stuart  of  Maryland,  had  been 
at  the  request  of  the  officers  commanding  them,  and  upon 
the  recommendation  of  General  Ewell,  transferred  and 
assigned  to  Ashby's  command.1 

The  brigade,  therefore,  at  this  time  consisted  of  the  Sec 
ond,  Sixth,  Seventh  and  Twelfth  regiments  and  the 
Seventeenth  Battalion,  all  Virginia  cavalry,  and  Chew's  Bat 
tery  of  horse  artillery. 

Col.  William  E.  Jones  of  the  First  Virginia  Cavalry,  and 
Col.  Beverly  Robertson  of  the  Fourth,  each  having  failed  of 
re-election  to  the  command  of  those  regiments,  and  both  of 
them  having  been  West  Pointers,  and  having  been  assured 
of  commands  in  the  Confederate  Army  by  the  authorities  at 
Richmond,  were  now  assigned  to  this  brigade,  Jones  as 
colonel  of  the  Seventh,  and  Beverly  Robertson  to  command 
of  the  brigade  with  rank  of  brigadier-general. 


1  Statement  of  General  Munford  in  a  letter  to  the  reviser  of  this  work. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  77 

The  Second  Virginia  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Munford, 
as  before  stated,  was  temporarily  detached  to  act  with 
Jackson's  division  in  front  of  Richmond. 

The  success  of  Lee  on  the  Chickahominy,  to  which  Jack 
son  had  so  signally  contributed,  had  the  effect  of  with 
drawing  Shields,  Fremont,  and  Banks  from  the  Valley,  and 
their  armies  marching  eastward  by  way  of  Sperryville  and 
Warrenton,  were  consolidated  into  the  army  of  Genl.  John 
D.  Pope,  a  new  army  sent  out  to  protect  Washington,  or 
to  co-operate  with  McClellan  in  the  attempt  upon  Richmond, 
as  circumstances  might  require. 

This  army  was  then  occupying  positions  on  the  upper 
branches  of  the  Rappahannock  River,  and  numbered  47,000 
to  50,000  men  of  all  arms. 

With  this  army  were  the  two  cavalry  divisions  of  Bayard 
and  Buford,  6,000  strong,  and  led  by  those  enterprising 
Federal  cavalrymen. 

Upon  the  withdrawal  of  the  Federal  armies  from  the 
Valley,  Robertson's  brigade  was  ordered  to  join  Jackson 
near  Richmond,  which  it  did  immediately,  reaching  there 
about  July  loth. 

Company  B  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia,  under  Lieutenants 
Milton  Rouss  and  George  Baylor,  having  been  left  behind 
to  operate  in  the  lower  Valley. 

On  the  1 3th  of  July  Jackson,  with  Ewell's  corps,  was 
ordered  to  Gordonsville  to  dispute  the  advance  of  Pope, 
which  on  the  27th  of  July  had  been  pushed  as  far  as  the 
Rapidan  River,  the  upper  fords  of  which  were  picketed  by 
a  portion  of  Robertson's  cavalry. 

Jackson  was  soon  after  reinforced  by  A.  P.  Hill's 
division. 


78  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  Robertson  brigade,  operating  upon  the  front  of  this 
advance,  was  now  strengthened  by  the  return  of  the  Second 
Virginia  Cavalry  under  Colonel  Munford. 

For  several  days  prior  to  the  2nd  of  August  the  Con 
federate  pickets  were  driven  in,  but  on  the  2nd  a  reconnois- 
sance  in  force  was  made,  by  the  Federals  proceeding  from 
Raccoon  Ford  to  Orange  Court  House.  The  reconnoiter- 
ing  force  consisted  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  Colonel 
De  Forest  commanding,  and  the  First  Vermont,  under  Col. 
Charles  H.  Thomkins,  all  under  command  of  Genl.  S.  W. 
Crawford. 

After  driving  in  the  Confederate  pickets,  the  reserve,  con 
sisting  of  Company  F  of  the  Eleventh  Virginia,  Captain 
Dangerfield  in  command,  was  pushed  to  half  a  mile  beyond 
Orange  Court  House- 
Here  the  Seventh  Virginia,  under  Col.  William  E.  Jones, 
appeared  upon  the  scene.  Throwing  out  sharpshooters  from 
McGruder's  company,  the  enemy's  advance  guard  was  soon 
driven  in,  and  the  Seventh  followed  in  a  charge  which 
turned  back  the  head  of  the  enemy's  column  and  created 
much  confusion  in  his  main  body. 

The  main  street  of  Orange  Court  House  was  packed  with 
the  contending  horsemen,  the  choice  spirits  of  both  sides 
pushing  into  the  thick  of  the  fight,  the  timid  withdrawing. 

In  the  meantime  Major  Marshall,  with  a  squadron,  made 
a  flank  attack  by  the  railroad  depot ;  but  his  own  party  was 
soon  struck  in  the  flank  by  a  Federal  company,  that  forced 
back  his  command  and  cut  off  his  retreat.  His  pistols  being 
empty,  he  tried  to  cut  his  way  through,  but  was  knocked 
senseless  by  a  sabre  stroke. 

Colonel  Jones  had  by  this  time  come  up  to  the  head  of  the 
regiment,  and  shot  the  Federal  trooper,  who  was  about  to 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  79 

kill  Marshall,  but  so  hard  was  the  resistance  that  Marshall 
remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Federals.  For  while  this  was 
going  on,  another  flanking  party  of  Federals  had  attacked 
Jones'  right  and  rear. 

Lieutenants  Neff  and  Mohler  of  Company  K  wheeled 
and  charged  this  body,  but  were  followed  by  about  a  dozen 
men  only,  and  the  enemy  for  the  moment  checked,  returned 
to  the  charge  and  drove  the  rear  companies  up  the  plank 
road,  wounding  and  capturing  quite  a  number. 

The  main  body  of  the  Seventh,  however,  kept  on  their 
course,  driving  the  enemy  through  the  town ;  but  soon  again 
returned,  having  observed  in  the  open  field  the  great  super 
iority  of  the  enemy  in  numbers. 

In  this  fight  the  Seventh  had  about  200  men  present. 
The  two  Federal  regiments  must  have  had  double  that 
number. 

"To  Lieutenant  Smith,  commanding  Company  A;  Cap 
tain  McGruder,  commanding  Company  B ;  Company  C, 
commanded  by  Captain  Myers  at  first,  and,  when  he  was 
severely  wounded,  by  Lieutenant  Myers ;  and  to  Company  D, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Brown,"  says  Colonel  Jones  in 
his  report,  "my  thanks  are  especially  due,  for  noble  bearing 
in  the  fight.  Sergt.  Clarence  L.  Broadus2  of  Company  D  is 
recommended  for  promotion  for  distinguished  gallantry." 

Colonel  Jones  acknowledged  a  loss  of  ten  wounded  and 
forty  missing. 

About  an  hour  after  the  fight  the  Federals  retreated, 
followed  by  the  Seventh,  which  being  reinforced  by  the 

2This  gallant  soldier  returned  to  his  command  after  the  loss  of  his 
arm,  and  continued  in  the  service  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He  served 
the  first  year  of  the  war  in  the  Tenth  Virginia  Infantry,  and  in  1862 
re-enlisted  in  Ashby's  cavalry. — From  Jones'  Official  Report. 


8o  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Sixth  Virginia,  under  Colonel  Flournoy,  pursued  the 
Federals  vigorously  as  far  as  Rapidan  Station. 

The  action  at  Orange  Court  House  was  soon  after  fol 
lowed  by  an  advance  of  Jackson's  army,  which  now  con 
sisted  of  the  divisions  of  Ewell,  A.  P.  Hill,  and  his  own; 
that  of  A.  P.  Hill  having  recently  arrived. 

Having  learned  that  only  a  portion  of  Pope's  army  was  at 
Culpeper  Court  House,  Jackson  resolved  to  attack  it  before 
the  arrival  of  the  remainder,  and  on  August  7th  moved 
from  Gordonsville  for  that  purpose. 

On  the  morning  of  August  8th,  the  Federal  cavalry  north 
of  the  Rapidan  was  driven  back  by  ours  under  Brigadier- 
General  Robertson. 

On  the  evening  of  the  8th,  the  Seventeenth  Battalion  and 
a  part  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  marched  towards  Madison 
Court  House. 

The  main  force  of  the  Federal  cavalry  retreated  towards 
Culpeper  Court  House,  making  a  feeble  resistance.  A 
part  fell  back  towards  Madison  Court  House,  and  were 
pursued  by  a  portion  of  the  Sixth,  under  Colonel  Flournoy, 
and  the  Seventeenth  Battalion,  under  Major  Patrick.  At 
several  points  they  attempted  to  rally,  but  each  time  being 
vigorously  charged  they  broke  and  finally  ran,  leaving  about 
twenty  wounded  and  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  Con 
federates. 

For  five  miles  the  chase  continued,  the  Seventeenth  Bat 
talion  and  the  Sixth  Regiment  pursuing  in  the  direction  of 
Madison  Court  House. 

On  the  Qth  was  fought  the  battle  of  Cedar  Run,  in  which 
Robertson's  cavalry  took  little  part,  the  main  body  being 
stationed  on  Jackson's  left,  while  Colonel  Jones,  with  the 
Seventh,  who  had  been  sent  to  Madison  Court  House, 


191 


MAJ.   WILLIAM    PATRICK 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  81 

returned  towards  evening  and  after  dark  passed  to  Jackson's 
right  and  front. 

The  battle  of  Cedar  Run  was  still  going  on.,  Jackson 
was  still  pursuing  Banks,  eager  to  drive  him  beyond  Cul- 
peper  Court  House. 

In  the  darkness,  the  Seventh  charged  a  body  of  the 
Federal  cavalry  and  forced  them  to  take  shelter  under  their 
infantry. 

A  prisoner  captured  in  this  charge  gave  the  first  informa 
tion  of  Seigel  having  arrived  to  reinforce  Banks.  Upon 
this  being  told  to  Jackson  the  pursuit  was  discontinued. 

The  following  day  all  the  cavalry  with  Jackson  was  put 
under  the  command  of  Genl.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart. 

Robertson's  brigade,  which  was  now  added  to  Stuart's 
division,  consisted  of  the  Second  Virginia,  Col.  T.  T.  Mun- 
ford ;  the  Sixth  Virginia,  Col.  P.  S.  Flournoy ;  the  Seventh 
Virginia,  Col.  W.  E.  Jones;  the  Twelfth  Virginia,  Col.  A. 
W.  Harman,  and  the  Seventeenth  Battalion,  under  Major 
Patrick. 

On  the  2Oth  of  August  Stuart's  command  led  the  advance 
of  Jackson's  army  in  its  movement  against  Pope. 

The  Second  Virginia  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Munford, 
was  ordered  to  keep  on  the  left  of  Jackson's  army  and  keep 
pace  with  its  movements. 

The  rest  of  Robertson's  brigade,  accompanied  by  Stuart, 
marched  by  way  of  Stephensburg,  a  village  four  miles  east 
of  Culpeper,  and  when  nearing  Brandy  Station  encoun 
tered  a  force  of  Federal  cavalry. 

The  Seventh  Virginia  led  the  Confederate  advance  and 
soon  engaged  the  Federals,  who  after  a  stubborn  resistance 
were  forced  back  beyond  Brandy  Station  upon  their  support. 


82  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

It  was  now  evident  that  the  enemy  was  in  heavy  force, 
and  in  fact  they  had  five  regiments  on  the  field,  the  First 
New  Jersey,  the  Second  New  York,  the  First  Pennsylvania, 
the  First  Maine,  and  the  First  Rhode  Island. 

General  Robertson,  with  the  Sixth,  Twelfth,  and  Seven 
teenth  battalions,  was  sent  to  the  left  to  sweep  across  the 
open  country  and  'flank  the  enemy's  position. 

At  first,  as  Stuart  advanced,  the  enemy  fell  back  along  the 
road  towards  Rappahannock  Station,  but  about  midway 
between  Brandy  Station  and  Rappahannock  Station,  he 
made  a  determined  stand  in  solid  columns  of  squadrons  on 
the  ridge,  with  skirmishers  deployed. 

With  these  the  Seventh  soon  became  engaged,  and  quickly 
followed  with  a  charge.  Immediately  opposing  the  Seventh 
were  the  First  New  Jersey,  the  Second  New  York,  and  the 
First  Pennsylvania. 

Says  the  Federal  general,  Bayard,  in  his  report,  "As  soon 
as  the  leading  regiment  of  the  enemy  came  up,  they  formed 
and  quickly  charged  with  loud  shouts  and  wild  yelling.  The 
sudden  charge  and  yells  of  the  enemy  seemed  to  strike  panic 
in  the  men,  so  that  they  soon  began  running." 

Robertson  was  now  sent  for  in  haste  to  support  the 
Seventh.  He  had  mistaken  the  road  and  borne  too  much  to 
the  left.  The  enemy,  however,  did  not  profit  by  the  delay, 
and  Robertson  arrived  in  time  to  join  in  the  battle.  The 
remaining  regiments  were  hurled  in  succession  upon  the 
enemy's  main  body,  which  fell  back  and  took  refuge  under 
the  protection  of  his  batteries  planted  beyond  the  river. 

"In  the  action  at  Brandy  Station,"  says  Stuart,  "Colonel 
Jones,  whose  regiment  so  long  bore  the  brunt  of  the  fight, 
behaved  with  marked  courage  and  determination."  The 
enemy  occupying  woods  and  hedgerows  with  dismounted 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  83 

men,  armed  with  long-range  carbines,  were  repeatedly  dis 
lodged  by  his  bold  onslaughts,  while  Flournoy  and  Harman 
nobly  supported  the  Seventh  at  the  critical  moment. 

In  this  engagement  General  Robertson  acknowledged  a 
loss  of  three  killed  and  fourteen  wounded.  He  captured 
sixty-four  prisoners,  many  of  whom  were  wounded.  The 
Federal  loss  nowhere  appears  in  the  reports. 

The  armies  of  Lee  and  Pope  now  lay  confronting  each 
other  on  the  opposite  banks  of  the  Rappahannock. 

On  the  morning  of  August  2ist,  with  the  apparent  design 
of  opening  a  way  for  a  general  advance  of  the  Confederates, 
Stuart  directed  Col.  T.  L.  Rosser,  commanding  the  Fifth 
Virginia  Cavalry,  to  move  with  his  command  for  Beverly 
Ford,  and  to  re-seize  the  opposite  bank  by  a  sudden  attack. 
This  was  successfully  accomplished  by  Colonel  Rosser,  and 
enough  of  the  bank  \vas  held  to  make  a  crossing  practicable 
for  the  infantry. 

In  the  meantime  Robertson's  brigade  had  crossed  at  a 
ford  above  and  prepared  the  way  for  an  advance.  For  some 
reason  there  was  a  change  of  plan,  and  Stuart's  cavalry  was 
withdrawn  to  the  south  bank  of  the  Rappahannock  before 
night. 

As  the  positions  of  the  Confederates  on  the  south  bank 
were  commanded  by  those  occupied  by  the  Federals  who 
guarded  all  the  fords,  it  was  determined  to  seek  a  more 
favorable  place  to  cross  higher  up  the  river  and  thus  gain 
the  enemy's  right.  Accordingly,  Lee's  army  on  the  2ist 
began  marching  up  the  river,  Jackson  in  front. 

On  the  23rd  Jackson  crossed  Hazel  River  and  proceeded 
up  the  Rappahannock.  The  same  evening  a  portion  of  his 
troops  crossed  the  Rappahannock,  but  owing  to  a  heavy 
rain  they  recrossed  on  a  temporary  bridge  during  the  night. 


84  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

In  the  meantime  Stuart  with  his  cavalry  was  engaged  in 
harassing  the  enemy's  rear.  On  the  morning  of  the  22nd 
he  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  Waterloo  Bridge  and  Hart's 
Ford,  with  all  of  his  division  except  the  Seventh  and  Third 
Virginia  Cavalry  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  He  reached 
Warrenton  in  the  afternoon  and  moved  in  the  direction  of 
Catlett's  Station  with  the  design  of  destroying  the  railroad 
bridge  that  crosses  Cedar  Creek  at  that  point. 

Had  the  object  of  the  expedition  been  accomplished, 
Pope's  line  of  communication  would  have  been  sundered, 
and  the  importance  of  success  spurred  Stuart  to  go  forward, 
though  a  terrific  thunderstorm  drenched  his  troops  and 
enveloped  them  with  thick  darkness.  The  downpour,  too, 
threatened  to  make  the  streams  impassable  on  his  return. 

Approaching  Catlett's  Station  under  cover  of  the  stormy 
night,  the  Federal  pickets  were  captured  by  the  direction  of 
Colonel  Rosser,  who  commanded  the  advance,  and  his  bold 
horsemen  were  soon  in  the  ;  midst  of  the  enemy's  encamp 
ments. 

Pope's  headquarters  were  near  by,  and  they  were  guided 
to  the  spot  by  a  captured  negro.  Pope  himself  was  away, 
but  many  of  his  official  household  were  there,  and  most  of 
them  with  much  valuable  plunder  were  taken  possession  of. 
Among  the  captured  articles  was  Pope's  despatch  book, 
revealing  his  plans  and  describing  his  embarrassments. 

The  destruction  of  the  railroad  bridge,  the  main  object  of 
the  expedition,  was  not  accomplished  on  account  of  the  dark 
ness  and  the  heavy  rain,  but  Stuart  returned  with  much 
plunder  and  300  prisoners. 

Pope,  now  aided  by  the  high  waters,  massing  his  army 
between  Waterloo  Bridge  and  Warrenton,  seemed  to  defy 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  85 

his  foes.  But  while  Longstreet  and  Hill  engaged  his  atten 
tion  in  front,  Jackson  began  the  celebrated  flank  movement 
which  put  him  in  Pope's  rear. 

Crossing  the  Rappahannock  four  miles  above  Hensons 
Mills  on  the  25th  he  reached  Salem  in  the  night.  Next  day, 
26th,  he  passed  through  Thoroughfare  Gap  and,  going 
through  Gainesville,  reached  Bristoe  Station  on  the  railroad. 

Stuart  with  his  command  was  ordered  to  take  part  in 
Jackson's  movement. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  he  crossed  the  Rappa 
hannock  at  Hensons  Mills,  and  at  Gainesville  joined  Jack 
son's  column.  To  him  and  his  command  was  entrusted  the 
duty  of  guarding  the  two  flanks.  The  main  portion  was 
kept  on  Jackson's  right  towards  the  enemy. 

After  crossing  Broad  Run,  a  few  miles  above  Bristoe 
Station,  the  cavalry  fronted  towards  the  enemy,  still  in  the 
direction  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  covered  Jackson's 
movement  on  the  railroad  bridge.  When  near  it  the  Second 
Virginia,  under  Colonel  Munford,  made  a  bold  dash  and 
captured  the  station  and  most  of  the  occupants. 

From  this  point,  by  order  of  Jackson,  Stuart,  with  the 
portion  of  Robertson's  brigade  not  on  outpost  duty,  pro 
ceeded  to  Manassas. 

In  the  meantime,  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Con 
federates  at  Bristoe  Station,  a  train  of  cars  passed,  and 
escaping  capture  gave  the  alarm  at  all  points  north.  The 
Federals,  therefore,  were  fully  prepared  to  give  the  Con 
federates  a  warm  reception  at  Manassas,  where  there  were 
immense  quantities  of  army  stores  which  were  supposed  to 
be  securely  stacked  away.  Jackson's  tired  and  hungry  men 
sorely  needed  these  and  Stuart  was  sent  to  take  them, 


86  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Trimble's  brigade  of  infantry  being  also  ordered  to  support 
him. 

The  cavalry  advanced  until  halted  by  the  interior  senti 
nels,  and  also  being  saluted  by  a  fire  of  canister.  On 
account  of  the  darkness  and  ignorance  of  the  ground,  the 
cavalry  waited  until  Trimble's  command  arrived,  when  the 
latter  advanced  and  took  the  station. 

The  27th  was  spent  by  the  cavalry  in  chasing  fugitives 
of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  in  capturing  Pope's  stragglers, 
that  like  rats  leaving  a  sinking  ship,  were  making  their  way 
towards  a  place  of  safety.  One  company — D  of  the  Seven 
teenth  Battalion,  Robertson's  brigade — near  Manassas  cap 
tured  over  100  of  them. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th  the  main  body  of  Robertson's 
brigade  rendezvoused  near  Sudley  Church. 

Jackson's  forces  were  massed  between  Sudley  Ford  and 
the  turnpike  on  Bull  Run.  Longstreet  was  not  yet  through 
Thoroughfare  Gap,  and  the  enemy  was  moving  in  between 
them  to  cut  off  Jackson. 

On  the  28th  Stuart  proceeded  with  portions  of  his  two 
brigades  towards  Thoroughfare  Gap,  to  establish  communi 
cation  with  Longstreet.  He  reached  the  vicinity  of  Hay- 
market,  capturing  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  on  his  way, 
but  went  no  further,  as  Haymarket  was  occupied  by  a  large 
force  of  the  enemy,  and  he  could  see  "Longstreet  struggling 
through  the  gorge."3  He  sent  a  trusty  messenger  to  Long- 
street,  and  retired  towards  evening  to  rejoin  Jackson,  who 
was  already  engaged  with  the  enemy. 

The  next  morning,  the  29th,  he  again  set  out  intending, 
if  possible,  to  reach  Longstreet.  Soon  after  leaving  the 


3From  Stuart's  Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  87 

Sudley  Road,  his  command  was  fired  into  from  woods  on 
the  roadside.  It  was  now  discovered  that  a  Federal  force 
was  between  Jackson  and  his  baggage  train. 

Major  Patrick,1  commanding  the  Seventeenth  Battalion 
(afterwards  a  part  of  the  Eleventh  Virginia  Cavalry),  was 
sent  to  take  care  of  the  baggage.  Infantry  also  was  sent  to 
assist  him,  and  some  artillery. 

Major  Patrick  was  soon  attacked  by  the  enemy,  but  with 
a  spirited  charge  drove  them  off.  The  loss  to  the  Con 
federates  was  great,  for  in  the  charge  Major  Patrick  fell 
mortally  wounded.  Says  Stuart,  "The  sacrifice  was  noble, 
but  the  loss  to  us  irreparable." 

In  the  meantime  Stuart,  proceeding  on  his  way,  met  the 
head  of  Longstreet's  column  between  Haymarket  and 
Gainesville,  and  informed  Longstreet  of  Jackson's  position. 
Here  he  took  position  with  his  command  on  Longstreet's 
right,  and  advanced  directly  upon  Manassas,  while  Long- 
street  pressed  down  the  turnpike  to  move  into  position  on 
Jackson's  right. 

General  Robertson  with  his  brigade  had  the  advance,  and 
soon  reported  the  enemy  in  front. 

Rosser  with  the  Fifth  was  soon  engaged  with  the  enemy 
on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  Robertson  on  the  right  met  the 
enemy  moving  towards  Sudley.  This  was  a  critical 


j.  Wm.  Patrick, -of  the  Seventeenth  Battalion  of  Virginia  Cavalry, 
was  born  near  Waynesboro,  Augusta  County,  Virginia,  December  22, 
1822.  Was  captain  of  the  Augusta  Troop  when  the  State  of  Virginia 
seceded  from  the  Union,  and  on  that  day  started  for  Harper's  Ferry. 

This  troop  was  then  made  Company  E,  of  the  First  Virginia  Cavalry, 
under  Col.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart. 

Captain  Patrick  was  commissioned  major  in  the  summer  of  1862, 
and  assigned  to  command  of  the  Seventeenth  Battalion  of  Virginia 
Cavalry,  which  he  commanded  with  ability  until  August  29,  1862,  on 


88  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

moment,  for  an  army  corps  of  Federals  was  in  motion  to 
strike  Longstreet' s  flank. 

In  order  to  arrest  the  Federals,  or  at  least  to  retard  them, 
Stuart  resorted  to  a  ruse,  and  ordered  a  number  of  his  men 
to  drag  brush  along  the  road  for  some  distance,  that  the 
clouds  of  dust  rising,  might  create  the  impression  upon  the 
Federal  commander,  that  Longstreet  with  large  bodies  of 
infantry  was  coming  to  his  aid. 

In  the  meantime  three  brigades  of  infantry  were  sent  to 
reinforce  Stuart,  and  the  enemy  soon  retired  in  the  direction 
of  Manassas. 

During  the  day  Jackson  had  been  fighting  against  greatly 
superior  numbers,  but  succeeded  in  holding  his  ground  until 
Longstreet  arrived  and  took  part  in  the  battle,  when  the 
enemy  was  repulsed  at  all  points. 

Next  morning,  the  3Oth,  Stuart's  cavalry  moved  to  the 
front  and  seized  an  important  point  of  observation,  from 
which  the  Federals  could  be  seen  massing  their  troops 
against  Jackson's  corps. 

Intelligence  of  this  was  sent  to  Lee.  About  three  P.  M., 
after  the  Federals  were  repulsed,  our  whole  right  and  left 
advanced.  Robertson's  brigade  and  the  Fifth  Virginia 
pushed  forward  on  the  extreme  right. 


which  day  he  fell  mortally  wounded  near  Sudley  Church.  It  was  in 
the  movement  of  Stonewall  Jackson  against  Pope,  known  as  the  second 
Manassas  campaign. 

A  Federal  force  had  intervened  between  Jackson's  main  body  and  his 
baggage  train.  Major  Patrick  with  his  battalion,  assisted  by  some 
infantry  and  artillery,  was  sent  to  protect  the  train.  He  was  soon 
attacked  by  the  Federals,  but  in  a  spirited  charge,  in  which  he  drove 
back  the  enemy,  he  fell  mortally  wounded,  dying  on  the  2nd  of 
September. 


GENL.  THOMAS  T.    MUNFORD 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  89 

Four  batteries — Stribbling's,  Rogers',  Eshleman's,  and 
Richardson's — moved  along  with  the  cavalry  under  the 
command  of  Col.  T.  L.  Rosser.  Soon  they  had  an  enfilad 
ing  fire  upon  the  enemy's  lines  which  told  with  fearful 
effect. 

In  the  meantime  Robertson's  brigade  had  reached  the 
Lewis  house  on  the  ridge  overlooking  Bull  Run.  The 
Second  Virginia,  under  Colonel  Munford,  was  in  front.  A 
small  body  of  Federal  cavalry  was  seen. 

Lieut-Col.  J.  W.  Watts  of  the  Second,  with  one  squadron 
charged  and  routed  it,  but  before  he  had  gone  far  discovered 
Buford's  brigade  of  cavalry  drawn  up.  The  rest  of  the 
Second  now  coming  up,  the  whole  regiment  was  soon 
engaged  with  the  enemy,  meeting  their  charge  with  a 
countercharge. 

Here  a  terrible  hand-to-hand  fight  ensued,  and  the 
Federals  with  greatly  superior  numbers  began  to  force  back 
the  Confederates,  when  the  Seventh,  under  Capt.  S.  B. 
Myers;  the  Twelfth,  under  Col.  A.  W.  Harman,  and  the 
Sixth,  under  Colonel  Flournoy,  coming  up  to  the  rescue,  the 
Federals  were  soon  forced  from  the  field,  and  the  Seventh 
and  Twelfth  continued  the  pursuit  until  the  enemy  were 
driven  beyond  the  turnpike  at  Stone  Bridge. 

Says  Stuart  in  his  report,  "Nothing  could  have  equaled 
the  splendor  with  which  Robertson's  regiments  swept  down 
upon  a  force  greatly  outnumbering  them." 

In  this  fight  Colonel  Brodhead  of  the  First  Michigan 
was  mortally  wounded  by  Lieut.  Lewis  Harman,  adjutant 
of  Twelfth  Cavalry. 

Three  hundred  prisoners  with  many  horses,  arms,  and 
equipments  were  captured  The  loss  in  Robertson's  brigade 
was  five  killed  and  forty  wounded. 


90  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Pope  was  now  in  full  retreat,  and  Jackson  early  the  fol 
lowing  morning,  leaving  Longstreet  to  bury  the  dead,  fol 
lowed  in  pursuit. 

Stuart,  with  Fitz  Lee  and  Robertson's  brigades,  preceded 
Jackson,  harassing  the  enemy's  rear. 

Pope,  falling  back  behind  the  defenses  at  Washington, 
was  now  let  alone,  and  Lee  turned  the  head  of  his  column 
towards  Maryland. 

While  Lee  was  crossing  the  Potomac,  the  Seventh  and 
Twelfth  regiments  of  Robertson's  brigade,  with  the  guns  of 
Chew's  Battery,  were  ordered  to  make  a  demonstration 
against  the  enemy  and  hold  him  in  check. 

The  Federal  pickets  were  encountered  near  Vienna,  and 
resisting  were  driven  in,  suffering  a  loss  of  three  killed. 
Quite  a  brisk  skirmish  now  began  between  the  opposing 
forces,  which  lasted  until  sundown,  when  Robertson's 
brigade  withdrew. 

On  September  4th  the  brigade  lost  its  commander.  Genl. 
B.  H.  Robertson  was  ordered  to  the  Department  of  North 
Carolina.  "Where,"  said  the  general  order,  "his  services 
are  indispensably  necessary  for  the  organization  and  instruc 
tion  of  cavalry  troops  of  North  Carolina." 

From  this  time  until  the  latter  part  of  October  the  brigade 
was  commanded  by  Colonel  Munford. 

The  command  of  Colonel  Munford  consisted  of  the 
Twelfth,  now  reduced  to  120  men;  the  Second,  numbering 
200,  and  the  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry,  under  Major  Myers. 

The  Seventeenth  Battalion  had  been  ordered  on  detached 
service,  while  the  Sixth  had  been  ordered  to  stay  behind  to 
collect  arms  and  guard  the  captured  property  on  the  field 
of  Manassas. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  91 

On  the  morning  of  September  8th  Munford  was  ordered 
to  Poolesville  by  Stuart,  with  instructions  to  expel  the  enemy 
from  that  place.  His  advance  guard  had  hardly  entered  the 
town,  when  three  regiments  of  Federals  with  four  pieces  of 
artillery  appeared  upon  the  scene,  and  driving  out  Munford's 
pickets  pressed  towards  his  main  body  and  charged  his 
most  forward  gam. 

The  Federals  also  charged  the  rifle  piece  supported  by  the 
Twelfth,  w^hen  this  regiment,  gallantly  led  by  Colonel  Har- 
man,  pressed  forward  and  drove  them  off,  inflicting  consid 
erable  damage,  and  suffering  a  loss  of  eight  men  killed  and 
wounded. 

Munford,  however,  seems  to  have  been  finally  worsted  in 
the  fight,  and  fell  back  to  the  crossroads,  where  he  could 
guard  the  approaches  to  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain.  This  point 
he  held  for  three  days,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy. 

On  the  i  ith,  upon  the  advance  of  a  Federal  division  under 
General  Slocum,  Munford  retired  to  a  point  within  three 
miles  of  Frederick  City  on  the  Buckeystown  Road. 

The  advance  now  of  McClellan's  army  forced  back  the 
Confederate  line  of  cavalry  pickets.  Munford  fell  back  to 
Burkittsville  pursued  all  the  way  by  Federal  cavalry,  who 
were  intent  upon  capturing  the  trains  guarded  by  him.  The 
enemy  were,  however,  kept  away  from  these,  though  not 
without  constant  skirmishing. 

The  train  having  safely  passed  over  Crampton's  Gap, 
Munford  there  halted  to  dispute  the  Federal  advance,  plac 
ing  three  pieces  of  artillery  in  position.  Having  received 
orders  from  General  Stuart  to  hold  the  Gap  at  all  hazards, 
on  the  morning  of  the  I4th,  reinforced  by  two  small  infantry 


92  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

regiments,  Munford  posted  his  small  force  so  as  to  make 
the  best  defense. 

The  infantry  took  position  behind  a  stone  wall  at  the  base 
of  the  mountain,  Chew's  Battery  and  a  section  of  the  Ports 
mouth  Battery  on  the  mountainside.  The  cavalry,  consist 
ing  of  the  Second  and  Twelfth  Virginia,  were  dismounted 
and  placed  on  the  right  and  left  flanks. 

In  a  short  time  the  enemy  appeared  and  boldly  attacked, 
hurling  upon  the  position  brigade  after  brigade  of  infantry 
until  the  whole  of  Slocum's  division,  assisted  by  a  brigade 
of  Heintzelman's,  were  engaged  in  the  assault. 

In  the  meantime  two  regiments  of  Mahone's  brigade  rein 
forced  the  Confederates,  and  the  battle  waxed  hot  and 
bloody. 

For  full  three  hours  this  little  force  of  Confederates  held 
the  Gap  against  overwhelming  numbers.  Then  General 
Cobb  arrived  with  two  more  regiments  to  reinforce  Munford 
and  to  assume  command. 

The  ammunition  of  the  Confederates,  who  had  been  so 
long  engaged,  was  exhausted.  Very  soon  the  Federals  press 
ing  forward  entered  the  Gap  and  drove  the  Confederates 
over  the  mountain. 

The  Federal  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  over  700, 
while  that  of  the  Confederates  was  comparatively  small; 
although  on  the  retreat  over  the  mountain  many  prisoners 
were  captured.  For  after  once  the  line  of  defense  was 
abandoned  the  pursuit  was  hot  and  the  retreat  disorderly. 

Colonel  Munford,  in  his  report  to  General  Jackson  of  the 
operations  of  the  brigade  while  under  his  command,  says : 
"The  cavalry  fought  here  (at  Crampton's  Gap)  with  pistols 
against  rifles.  Captain  Chew,  as  true  as  steel  and  ever 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  93 

ready,  deserves  to  be  mentioned.  Col.  O.  R.  Funsten  is  a 
noble  man,  and  General  Jones'  brigade  is  second  to  none  I 
have  ever  yet  seen  in  point  of  mettle." 

In  a  private  letter  since  the  war,  General  Munford  writes  : 
"We  were  ordered  from  Poolesville,  Maryland,  to  Cramp- 
ton's  Gap,  and  were  closely  followed  by  Slocum's  division 
and  Franklin's  corps,  30,000  strong.  Jackson  had  been  sent 
to  capture  Harper's  Ferry.  Chew's  Battery  was  left  with 
me  with  a  part  of  the  brigade  to  hold  that  Gap.  General 
Stuart  with  Hampton's  command  went  southward  along  the 
mountain  to  co-operate  with  McLaws,  whose  division  held 
the  Maryland  heights.  Genl.  Ho  well  Cobb  of  Georgia  was 
to  support  my  command.  At  that  time  we  were  cavalry 
with  very  few  arms  but  sabres  and  pistols,  and  it  was  simply 
absurd  to  expect  cavalry  to  contend  with  infantry  on  a 
mountainside.  It  was  there  that  Chew's  Battery  delayed  an 
army  several  hours,  supported  by  my  command,  which  was 
poorly  supported  by  Cobb."4 

The  defense  of  Crampton's  Gap  for  three  hours,  in  all 
human  probability,  not  only  enabled  Jackson  successfully  to 
invest  Harper's  Ferry  and  capture  it  with  its  garrison  of 
12,520  prisoners,  73  pieces  of  artillery,  13,000  small  arms, 
several  hundred  wagons,  and  great  stores;  but  had  Slocum 
and  Franklin  succeeded  in  forcing  the  Gap  early  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  i4th,  they  would  have  taken  McLaws  in 
reverse  with  overwhelming  numbers,  and  separated  as  he 

4It  is  plain  from  General  Munford's  account,  and  he  being  in  com 
mand,  with  orders  to  "hold  the  Gap  at  all  hazards,"  was  in  best  posi 
tion  to  know — that  the  cavalry  was  at  great  disadvantage,  and  the 
infantry  having  arrived  too  late  to  assist,  it  was  the  artillery  under 
Captain  Chew  that  delayed  the  Federal  Army  three  hours  at  Crampton's 
Gap.  An  achievement  without  parallel  in  the  annals  of  the  war. 


94  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

was  from  Jackson  by  the  Potomac  River,  might  have  cap 
tured  his  force  and  raised  the  siege  of  Harper's  Ferry. 

The  command  had  been  given  to  Munford  by  Stuart  to 
hold  Crampton's  Gap  at  all  hazards.  Had  he  indifferently 
executed  that  order,  it  is  impossible  to  estimate  how  great 
and  far-reaching  a  disaster  might  have  befallen  the  Confed 
erate  arms. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  had  on  the  loth  been  ordered  to 
report  to  General  Jackson  for  operations  against  Harper's 
Ferry. 

On  the  same  day  Jackson  started  from  Frederick  City, 
and  on  the  nth  recrossed  the  Potomac  en  route  to  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  drove  the  Federals  out  of  Martinsburg  before 
him  to  swell  the  garrison  at  Harper's  Ferry. 

In  this  almost  bloodless  episode,  which  ended  in  the  cap 
ture  of  the  Federal  garrison  at  Harper's  Ferry,  the  Seventh, 
under  Major  Myers,  accompanied  Jackson,  helping  to  mask 
the  movement  and  otherwise  furnishing  aid. 

The  Seventeenth  Battalion,  under  command  of  Maj. 
Thomas  B.  Massie,  and  a  company  of  the  Twelfth  did  not 
participate  in  the  Maryland  campaign  until  after  the  sur 
render  of  Harper's  Ferry,  September  151)1,  1862. 

On  the  3t»e,;,of  September  this  battalion  crossed  the  Blue 
Ridge  at  Snickers  Gap,  and  spent  several  days  scouting  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Winchester. 

On  the  7th  of  September  Major  Massie  took  his  com 
mand  on  a  reconnoissance  towards  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
when  near  Darksville  met  with  a  small  force  of  Federals 
and  charged  and  pursued  them  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Martinsburg.  In  the  charge  many  prisoners  were  captured, 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  95 

and  Massie's  command  stringing  out  in  pursuit,  lost  their 
proper  position  in  the  column. 

On  the  return,  when  near  Darksville,  they  were  suddenly 
attacked  by  a  Federal  cavalry  force.  Forming  his  men  as 
best  he  might  in  the  streets  of  Darksville,  he  gave  battle, 
and  after  a  contest  in  which  several  of  the  Confederates 
were  killed  and  wounded  he  was  forced  to  retreat. 

In  this  skirmish  the  Federals  had  a  force  of  five  com 
panies  of  cavalry,  four  companies  of  infantry,  and  a  section 
of  artillery. 

Colonel  Voss,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Federals, 
acknowledged  a  loss  of  thirteen  wounded. 

Shortly  after  this  skirmish  Major  Massie  and  his  com 
mand  joined  Jackson  at  Harper's  Ferry,  where  they  occu 
pied  a  position  on  his  flanks,  picketing  the  fords  of  the 
Shenandoah  and  Potomac  until  the  surrender  of  the  place. 

The  immense  plunder  captured  at  Harper's  Ferry  would 
have  furnished  enjoyment  to  the  victors  for  several  days, 
but  the  pressure  on  Lee  in  Maryland  left  no  time  for  a 
glorification. 

On  the  1 6th  Jackson's  whole  army,  with  the  exception  of 
Hill's  division,  began  to  retrace  their  steps  to  the  side  of 
Lee,  who  was  now  threatened  with  an  attack  from  McClel- 
lan's  army. 

Soon  the  opposing  forces  gathered  and  confronted  each 
other  near  Sharpsburg  in  Maryland. 

The  brigade  being  posted  on  the  right  of  Lee's  line  near 
the  river,  did  not  actively  participate  in  the  hard-fought 
battle  of  Sharpsburg,  Antietam  as  it  is  commonly  called, 
although  engaging  in  several  skirmishes. 

Lee's  army,  though  more  than  decimated  by  the  unequal 
contest  of  the  day  before,  still  defiantly  confronted  a  foe 


96  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

who,  though  conscious  of  superior  numbers,  did  not  again 
move  to  the  attack. 

During  the  night  of  the  i8th  Lee  safely  withdrew  to  the 
south  bank  of  the  Potomac.  The  cavalry  was  the  last  to 
cross,  and  Munford's  command  brought  up  the  rear, 
making  the  passage  in  sight  of  the  Federals  and  under 
cover  of  friendly  guns  on  the  south  bank. 

The  brigade  now  took  position  on  the  Confederate  right 
near  Boteler's  Ford.  Near  this  ford  also  was  stationed 
Lee's  reserve  artillery,  supported  by  two  infantry  brigades, 
Armistead's  and  Lawton's. 

On  the  evening  of  the  ipth  four  regiments  of  Federals 
crossed  at  this  point  and,  making  a  vigorous  attack,  drove 
off  the  Confederate  infantry  and  captured  four  guns. 

The  disaster  would  have  been  greater  had  not  Munford 
covered  the  retreat  of  the  infantry  and  artillery  with  his 
cavalry. 

Shortly  after  the  2Oth  of  September  Lee's  whole  army 
returned  and  took  position  south  of  Martinsburg. 

While  the  jaded  infantry  was  enjoying  a  well-earned 
repose,  the  cavalry  kept  watch  on  the  front,  occasionally 
engaging  in  skirmishes  with  the  enemy. 

When  the  brigade  under  Robertson  crossed  the  Blue 
Ridge  to  operate  with  Jackson  in  June  near  Richmond, 
Company  B  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry  'was  left  in 
the  Valley,  and  the  services  of  this  company  while  thus 
detached,  under  command  of  Lieutenants  Milton  Rouss  and 
George  Baylor,  won  for  it  a  name,  which  being  well  sus 
tained  by  its  subsequent  conduct  during  the  entire  war, 
made  it  famous  throughout  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

The  operations  of  the  company  were  chiefly  in  'the  lower 
Valley.  Shields,  Fremont,  and  Banks  having  gone  east  of 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  97 

the  mountain  to  join  Pope,  the  other  Federals  had  with 
drawn  to  points  on,  and  near  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  and 
the  Winchester  and  Potomac  railroads. 

Brigadier-General  White  occupied  Winchester  with  a 
considerable  force  of  all  arms.  General  Reddin  was  occupy 
ing  Front  Royal  August  loth  and  some  time  prior,  with  a 
force  of  800  infantry  of  the  Third  Delaware  Regiment,  400 
cavalry,  and  a  battery  of  artillery. 

Company  B  at  that  time  had  its  camp  near  Harrisonburg. 
Lieutenant  Rouss  being  absent  on  short  leave,  Lieut.  George 
Baylor,  next  in  command,  with  thirty  men  started  on  a  scout 
in  the  Luray  Valley,  and  made  a  dash  into  Front  Royal, 
which  for  its  rashness  and  success  had  few  equals  in  the 
annals  of  the  war.  The  account  of  it  is  best  told  as  far  as 
practicable  in  Lieutenant  Baylor's  own  language  found  in 
his  "Bull  Run  to  Bull  Run,"  page  45  : 

"On  the  loth  of  August  with  thirty  men  I  started  on  a  scout 
to  Luray,  expecting  to  find  a  small  force  of  the  enemy  in 
possession  of  the  town ;  but  on  marching  there  found  the  enemy 
had  moved  east  that  morning,  and  a  few  stragglers  were  cap 
tured.  The  night  was  spent  in  Luray  with  our  friends. 
*  *  *  The  next  morning  with  twenty-five  men  I  started  on 
the  road  to  Front  Royal.  We  inquired  along  the  road  as  to 
the  enemy's  position,  but  failed  to  elicit  any  further  informa 
tion  than  that  it  occupied  Front  Royal.  About  noon  on  the 
nth  we  had  reached  the  vicinity  of  that  town,  but  had 
encountered  no  foe. 

"About  one-half  mile  south  of  the  place,  however,  we  came 
suddenly  upon  the  enemy's  cavalry  picket-post,  and  a  charge 
was  immediately  ordered.  Recklessly  we  dashed  into  the  town, 
capturing  the  cavalry  picket  reserve,  and  finding  the  town 
occupied  by  a  large  infantry  force.  Our  men  were  soon 
scattered,  pursuing  fleeing  Yankees  in  every  direction. 


98  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

"Noticing-  a  company  of  infantry  forming  in  front  of  the 
hotel,  and  about  forty  men  in  line,  I  called  Henry  Beall  and 
Charley  Crane  to  my  assistance  and  we  dashed  in  among  them, 
and  drawing  my  pistol  on  the  officer  in  command,  demanded  a 
surrender.  He  turned  to  his  men  and  ordered  them  to  'ground 
arms/  an  order  quickly  obeyed.  Securing  the  officer,  I 
directed  the  men  to  march  out  by  the  Luray  Road. 

"Just  then  another  officer  appeared  on  the  scene,  and  he  too 
was  made  prisoner.  General  Reddin,  who  was  in  command  of 
the  force,  made  his  escape  on  a  cart  horse.  Our  handful  of 
men  were  soon  overwhelmed  with  prisoners,  and  I  was  satis 
fied  we  must  beat  a  hasty  retreat. 

"In  looking  up  our  boys  and  getting  them  together,  I  found 
John  Terrill  and  Bob  North  in  among  the  infantry  tents, 
slashing  holes  in  them  with  their  sabres  and  ordering  the  occu 
pants  to  come  out. 

"Our  situation  was  critical  indeed,  and  gathering  up  as  many 
of  the  prisoners  as  could  hastily  be  gotten  together,  our  retreat 
was  begun. 

"We  left  Front  Royal  with  about  300  prisoners,  most  of 
them  infantrymen,  and  among  them  a  major  and  two  captains. 

"When  about  a  mile  south  of  the  town,  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
about  300  strong,  appeared  in  our  rear.  About  fifteen  horses 
had  been  captured  from  the  enemy.  On  these  prisoners  were 
mounted,  and  with  the  residue  on  foot  in  charge  of  fifteen  men, 
were  started  off  at  a  rapid  pace  towards  Luray,  while  with  ten 
men  I  undertook  to  cover  the  retreat.  The  enemy  was  held  in 
check  for  some  time,  but  finally  broke  our  little  rear  guard  and 
succeeded  in  releasing  the  foot  prisoners,  but  those  on  horse 
back  were  brought  off  safely. 

"In  a  running  fight  of  five  miles,  with  countercharges  we 
kept  this  body  of  cavalry  sufficiently  in  check  to  permit  the 
mounted  prisoners  and  guards  to  keep  at  a  safe  distance  from 
recapture. 

"In  one  of  the  enemy's  charges  Private  Baker  of  our  com 
pany  was  captured,  a  countercharge  was  ordered  and  Baker 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  99 

was  released.  In  this  engagement  George  Timberlake  was 
slightly  wounded;  Orderly  Sergt.  Seth  Timberlake,  known 
as  the  'Fighting  Sergeant,'  had  his  horse  killed,  and  my  horse 
was  wounded  in  the  shoulder  and  neck,  and  though  losing 
blood,  bore  me  safely  through  the  conflict. 

"The  enemy's  loss  was  ten  killed  and  wounded,  and  two 
officers  and  thirteen  men  prisoners.  The  officers  were  Cap 
tains  Darrell  and  Baker  of  the  Third  Delaware  Regiment." 

After  this  event  Company  B  rested  in  camp,  which  was 
still  near  Harrisonburg,  and  on  August  26th  started  on 
another  expedition  under  command  of  Lieut.  Milton  Rouss. 

Leaving  a  sufficient  picket  for  the  post  under  command 
of  a  sergeant,  Lieutenant  Rouss  with  thirty  men  started 
down  the  Valley  to  observe  the  enemy  and  follow  the  lead 
of  opportunity  in  demonstrations  against  him.  Winchester 
was  at  that  time  occupied  by  the  Federals  under  Brigadier- 
General  White,  with  a  brigade  of  infantry,  a  battery  of 
artillery,  and  290  cavalry. 

The  neighborhood  of  Winchester  was  the  objective  point 
of  Rouss'  expedition,  and  the  point  arrived  at  was  midway 
between  Summit  Point  and  Wade's  Depot,  at  each  of  which 
places  the  enemy  had  a  force  of  eighty  infantry  and  five 
cavalry.  The  distance  between  the  two  depots  is  four  miles, 
hence  in  either  direction  Rouss'  command  of  thirty  men 
was  only  two  miles  from  the  enemy,  with  the  garrison  at 
Winchester  directly  between  his  present  position  and  his 
camp  at  Harrisonburg,  and  a  part  of  that  garrison  consist 
ing  of  290  freshly-mounted  cavalry. 

At  four  o'clock  P.  M.  the  Potomac  Railroad  was  reached 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  sound  of  the  passenger  engine  was 
heard.  A  quick  disposition  was  made  of  the  force,  and 
obstructions  were  at  once  placed  on  the  track  to  bring  the 


ioo  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

engine  to  a  halt.  When  the  train  had  reached  within  ioo 
yards  of  the  obstruction  the  command  was  given  to  halt, 
but  the  frightened  engineer  took  no  heed  of  the  command. 
A  pistol  fire  was  at  once  opened  upon  the  moving  train, 
which  came  to  a  standstill  just  in  front  of  the  obstruction. 

The  engineer  was  immediately  taken  in  hand,  and  some 
of  the  men  entering  the  cars  made  prisoners  of  the  eight 
Federal  soldiers  on  board. 

The  few  citizens  on  board  were  permitted  to  proceed  on 
foot  towards  Winchester.  The  agent  of  the  Adams 
Express  Company  in  an  attempt  to  escape  was  badly 
wounded  in  the  thigh. 

The  express  car  was  full  of  wines,  fruit,  and  other 
delicacies  which 'the  Confederate  troopers  enjoyed  with  fine 
appetites,  drinking  bumpers  of  champagne  to  the  health  of 
Jeff  Davis,  the  Southern  Confederacy,  and  to  each  of  their 
sweethearts  by  name. 

The  United  States  mail  was  also  secured,  and  about 
$4,000  in  money  that  was  intended  for  the  Federal  pay 
master. 

The  engine  was  put  under  full  steam  and  started  towards 
Winchester,  and  the  cars  set  on  fire  and  pine  laid  on  to 
facilitate  the  burning.  The  telegraph  wire  was  cut  and  the 
line  destroyed  for  200  yards. 

Sending  back  the  prisoners  by  Lieutenant  Roland  with 
thirteen  men,  Rouss  with  Baylor  and  seventeen  men  started 
to  capture  a  small  cavalry  force  at  Middleway,  some  six 
miles  north,  in  Jefferson  county.  Upon  arriving  in  sight  of 
the  pickets  he  charged  them,  capturing  them,  three  in  num 
ber,  without  firing  a  shot,  and  pressed  on  quickly  into  the 
town,  where  the  reserve,  fourteen  in  number,  were  captured 
before  they  had  time  to  mount  their  horses. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  101 

Loaded  down  with  Federal  prisoners  and  plunder,  Rouss 
thought  it  prudent  to  return  to  his  encampment,  in  accom 
plishing  which  he  camped  for  an  hour  about  daylight  within 
five  miles  of  Winchester,  having  passed  within  three  miles 
of  that  place,  seeing  the  Federal  camp-fires. 

This  bold  enterprise  caused  much  excitement  among  the 
Federals,  and  soon  thereafter  White  hastily  evacuated  Win 
chester,  leaving  four  thirty-two  pounders,  which  he  first 
spiked,  and  burned  the  carriages;  and  destroying  70.000 
pounds  of  forage  and  60,000  rations  besides  other  stores, 
tools,  etc. 

Rouss  soon  after  moved  his  camp  down  the  Valley, 
harassing  the  enemy  wherever  practicable. 

On  the  6th  of  September  the  company  took  active  part  in 
the  affair  at  Darksville,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Massie,  of 
which  mention  has  already  been  made ;  he  having  with  him 
Company  I  of  the  Twelfth  and  a  squadron  of  the  Eleventh 
Virginia  Cavalry,  at  that  time  consisting  of  only  six  com 
panies  and  known  as  the  Seventeenth  Battalion. 

On  the  7th  Company  B  took  position  near  Charles  Town 
and  remained  there  until  the  morning  of  the  I3th,  when  it 
was  attacked  by  four  companies  of  the  First  New  York  Cav 
alry,  about  a  mile  west  of  the  town,  and  after  a  sharp  brush 
the  enemy  retired.  In  this  encounter  Lieutenant  Rouss  and 
Private  Cary  Selden  were  wounded. 

This  company  remained  on  detached  service  in  the  Valley 
until  the  early  part  of  the  winter  of  1863,  when  it  was 
recalled  to  its  place  in  the  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry,  the 
brigade  at  that  time  being  under  the  command  of  Genl.  Wil 
liam  E.  Jones. 


1O2  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

For  six  weeks  Lee's  army,  after  the  battle  of  Sharps- 
burg,  remained  quiet,  recruiting  its  strength. 

In  the  meantime  Stuart  engaged  in  one  of  those  bold  raids 
that  added  so  much  to  his  fame. 

On  the  loth  of  October  Stuart  with  a  command  consisting 
of  about  i, 800  men,  each  of  his  brigades  furnishing  600, 
crossed  the  Potomac  a  little  above  McCoy's  Ford.  By  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning  the  Federals  were  aware  of  this 
movement,  but  before  any  resistance  could  be  organized  the 
bold  Confederates  swept  northward,  spreading  consternation 
among  the  thrifty  farmers  of  Pennsylvania. 

On  either  flank  squadrons  scoured  the  country  for  fresh 
horses,  and  in  spite  of  McClellan's  army  along  the  Potomac, 
the  chattels  of  the  good  citizens  of  Pennsylvania  were  appro 
priated  for  the  benefit  of  the  Confederacy. 

The  first  day's  march  brought  the  column  to  Chambers- 
burg,  where  the  night  was  passed  in  the  midst  of  a  drizzling 
rain. 

The  news  of  the  raid  had  been  telegraphed  from  point  to 
point,  and  in  every  direction  preparations  were  made  by  the 
Federals  to  intercept  Stuart  on  his  return. 

It  had  proved  easy  enough  to  enter  the  enemy's  country. 
The  more  difficult  task  of  getting  out  of  it  now  confronted 
him.  Stuart,  however,  was  equal  to  the  emergency.  He 
determined  that  the  "longest  way  around  was  the  shortest 
way  home";  so  contrary  to  all  expectations  he  turned  his 
face  eastward  instead  of  westward,  proceeding  nearly  to 
Gettysburg.  At  Cashtown  he  turned  southward ;  as  soon  as 
he  crossed  the  Maryland  line,  the  flankers  gathering  horses 
were  called  in  and  the  column  closed  up. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  103 

By  rapid  marching  he  disappointed  all  the  expectations  of 
the  foe.  Avoiding  his  enemy  at  one  point,  at  another  he 
brushed  him  aside,  reaching  Emmitsburg  about  sundown  on 
the  nth. 

There  were  yet  forty-five  miles  to  the  Potomac.  All  night 
long  his  command  moved  at  a  trot,  the  artillery  keeping  up 
by  means  of  fresh  horses,  ever  ready.  By  daylight  on  the 
Twelfth  he  entered  Hyattstown,  twelve  miles  yet  from  a 
place  of  safety. 

When  near  Poolesville  the  Federal  cavalry  under  General 
Pleasonton  were  seen,  when  a  sudden  charge  upon  them 
cleared  the  road,  and  marching  towards  White's  Ford  he 
there  crossed  safely  with  all  his  command.  The  detachment 
from  Munford's  command  on  this  raid  was  under  Col.  W. 
E.  Jones.  It  was  the  second  to  cross  at  White's  Ford. 

The  results  of  this  raid  were  manifold.  Twelve  hundred 
horses  were  taken  from  the  farmers  of  Pennsylvania,  not 
to  speak  of  other  spoils.  Perhaps  the  most  valuable  result 
was  that  it  called  into  activity  many  thousands  of  the  Fed 
erals,  and  used  up  their  cavalry  in  their  attempts  to  find  and 
intercept  Stuart. 

Like  all  of  Stuart's  raids,  however,  it  taught  the  Federals 
the  advantage  of  a  well-organized  and  numerous  cavalry 
force,  and  stimulated  them  to  increase  and  better  equip  this 
arm  of  the  service. 

While  Lee  was  resting  his  men,  collecting  stragglers,  and 
drilling  new  levies  in  the  lower  Valley,  the  Federals  were 
similarly  engaged,  and  with  much  greater  resources  to  draw 
from. 


104  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  authorities  at  Washington  wanted  McClellan  to  move 
nearer  to  Washington,  across  the  Potomac,  fearing,  as  they 
always  did,  a  surprise  by  way  of  Manassas. 

McClellan,  believing  that  if  he  crossed  below  Harper's 
Ferry,  Lee  would  again  invade  Maryland,  at  first  hesitated, 
but  afterwards  yielded,  having  left  the  important  points 
along  the  Potomac  heavily  garrisoned. 

On  the  26th  of  October  the  Federals  began  crossing  the 
Potomac  in  force  at  Berlin. 

On  the  29th  the  Second  and  Fifth  corps  crossed  at  Har 
per's  Ferry,  and  the  whole  Federal  Army,  by  November  the 
2nd,  were  moving  on  both  sides  of  the  Blue  Ridge  south 
ward,  to  get  between  Lee  and  Richmond.  Before  this,  how 
ever,  Harper's  Ferry  had  been  occupied  by  a  considerable 
force  of  Federals,  and  their  advance  was  watched,  and  fre 
quently  attacked  by  portions  of  our  cavalry. 

On  the  1 6th  of  October,  and  for  a  short  time  before,  Mun- 
ford's  command  was  occupied  in  picketing  from  Walper's 
Crossroads,  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  to  Berry's 
Ferry. 

The  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Burks,  was  on  picket  at  Charles  Town, 
and  with  them  Capt.  B.  H.  Smith,  Third  Company  Rich 
mond  Howitzers,  and  Lieut.  J.  W.  Carter  of  Chew's  Battery. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  i6th  a  division  of  Federal 
infantry  and  artillery  drove  in  our  pickets,  and  for  four 
hours  were  held  in  check  by  the  Confederate  force  men 
tioned. 

Our  loss  was  two  killed  and  five  or  six  wounded ;  that  of 
the  enemy  much  greater. 


BRIG.-GENL.    WILLIAM    E.    JONES 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  105 

For  gallantry  in  this  engagement  Colonel  Munford  com 
mends  Lieutenant  Carter,  Colonel  Burks,  Captain  Smith, 
and  Lieut.  L.  F.  Jones. 

The  latter  part  of  October,  the  Confederate  Army,  in 
response  to  McClellan's  southern  movement,  began  to  leave 
the  Valley  and  set  out  for  Culpeper  Court  House. 

Munford's  brigade  was  detached  from  Stuart's  division 
and  ordered  to  bring  up  Jackson's  rear. 

The  Federals  having  now  made  the  Rappahannock  their 
line  and  threatening  to  advance  on  Richmond,  Lee  kept 
Jackson  in  the  Valley  to  menace  their  flank  if  they  moved 
further  south. 

While  matters  were  in  this  condition,  on  November  the 
8th,  Col.  W.  E.  Jones  was  made  brigadier  and  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  brigade,  now  called  the  Second  Brigade. 

On  November  the  loth,  1862,  it  was  ordered  from  army 
headquarters  that  Jones'  (the  Second  Brigade)  was  to  con 
sist  of  the  Seventh,  Twelfth  and  Sixth  regiments,  the  Seven 
teenth  Battalion,  and  White's  cavalry. 

In  a  skirmish  at  Philamount,  on  the  gth  of  November, 
four  men  of  White's  Battalion — Mortimer  W.  Palmer,  R. 
Henry  Simpson,  David  J.  Lee,  and  Robert  A.  Ritacor— 
charged  and  drove  out  of  the  town  fifty  Federals,  capturing 
two  negroes  and  three  wagons  from  their  train. 

On  the  evening  of  November  Qth,  Geary  with  2,500 
infantry  marched  from  Bolivar  Heights,  and  driving  the 
Confederate  picket  from  Halltown,  pursued  them  beyond 
Rippon.  The  picket  was  a  portion  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia. 

On  the  28th  of  October  White's  cavalry  was  organized 
into  a  battalion,  and  its  captain,  E.  V.  White,  was  promoted 
to  major. 


io6  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Up  to  this  time  this  command,  consisting  of  only  one  com 
pany,  had  been  engaged  in  detached  service  chiefly,  in  the 
counties  of  Loudon,  Va.,  and  Montgomery,  Md.,  and  had 
won  quite  a  reputation  for  dash  and  efficiency  under  its  gal 
lant  leader. 

At  this  time  Major  White  was  recovering  from  a  wound 
he  had  received.  The  battalion  was  stationed  in  Snickers 
Gap.  A  Federal  force,  the  Eighth  New  York,  tinder  Colonel 
Davis,  attempted  to  force  its  way  through  the  Gap,  but  was 
driven  back. 

On  November  3rd  another  attempt  was  made  upon  the 
Gap  with  a  heavy  force  of  cavalry,  infantry,  and  artillery, 
which  was  again  repulsed  with  the  assistance  of  Hill's 
infantry.  At  this  time  the  main  portion  of  Lee's  army  was 
still  between  Winchester  and  Martinsburg. 

In  this  engagement  White's  men  were  forced  through 
the  gap  across  Castleman's  Ferry,  the  Federals  advancing  to 
the  river  bank. 

In  the  meantime,  a  battery  belonging  to  A.  P.  Hill's  corps, 
came  to  the  rescue,  and  delivering  a  heavy  fire  upon  the 
Federals  massed  upon  the  east  bank,  killed  a  great  many  and 
drove  them  in  confusion  up  the  mountain. 

The  Federal  force  in  this  engagement,  consisted  of  forty- 
six  cavalry,  219  of  the  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  Infantry, 
and  a  part  of  two  other  regiments  of  regulars.  Their  loss  is 
not  exactly  reported,  but  the  Fourteenth  Infantry  lost  thirty 
killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  rest  five  officers. 

A  few  days  after  this,  White  went  through  the  Gap  and 
harassing  the  rear  of  the  Federal  column,  captured  twenty 
wagons  and  102  prisoners.  This  was  followed  by  other 
raiding  expeditions  of  White,  on  the  trains  and  camps  of  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  107 

Federals  now  moving  southward  towards  Fredericksburg,  in 
which  more  wagons  and  provisions  were  captured. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  however,  the  Federals  had  their 
revenge.  General  Stahl  with  a  considerable  force  of  cavalry 
crossed  the  Shenandoah  at  Castleman's  Ferry,  and  attacked 
the  small  company  on  picket  there  belonging  to  White's 
command.  White's  camp  of  sick  and  dismounted  men  was 
but  two  miles  further  from  the  river,  the  rest  of  his  com 
panies  being  stationed  elsewhere.  The  Federals  soon  drove 
the  company  on  picket  towards  Berryville  and  pressed  them 
vigorously. 

White,  who  was  sick  at  a  house  near  the  road,  joined  the 
rear  of  his  men  before  the  camp  was  reached,  and  was  soon 
wounded  in  the  thigh.  All  attempts  to  rally  the  men  at  the 
camp  proved  fruitless,  and  the  retreat  was  continued  beyond 
Berryville,  where  the  enemy  was  met  by  a  portion  of  the 
Twelfth  Cavalry  under  Major  Massie. 

A  vigorous  charge  by  the  Twelfth  gave  a  serious  check, 
but  the  victorious  Federals  advanced  on  the  turnpike  as  far 
as  the  Opequon. 

Colonel  Burks,  who  commanded  the  Twelfth,  reports  that 
Company  F,  under  Lieutenant  Randolph,  turned  out  first, 
and  was  followed  by  Capt.  E.  Sipe,  commanding  Company 
H ;  Lieutenants   Harman  and   Myers,   commanding  Com 
panies  K  and  C — in  all  about  100  men. 

The  Confederate  loss  was  twenty-seven  captured,  four 
wounded  and  two  wagons  captured.  The  Federals  acknowl 
edge  a  loss  of  fifteen  killed  and  wounded,  but  they  claim  to 
have  captured  forty  Confederates  and  killed  and  wounded 
fifty. 


io8  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

On  the  1 2th  of  November  Maj.  E.  V.  White  was  sent  on 
a  scout  with  his  battalion  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  was 
so  successful  as  to  win  praise  from  both  Stuart  and  Lee  for 
his  boldness  and  discretion. 

Crossing  at  Snickers  Gap  he  went  to  Hillsboro  in  Loudon 
county  and  captured  a  picket  of  twelve  infantrymen.  Push 
ing  on  towards  Leesburg  he  came  up  with  some  Federal  cav 
alry,  which  he  charged  and  routed,  capturing  two  and 
wounding  three. 

On  the  morning  of  the  I4th  he  came  upon  the  company 
of  Loudoun  Guerrillas  commanded  by  Capt.  Means.  These 
he  charged  and  drove,  pursuing  them  for  five  miles,  killing 
one,  a  lieutenant,  and  capturing  two. 

Hearing  that  there  was  a  company  of  Federals  at  Pooles- 
ville,  he  made  for  that  point  with  ninety-three  men  in  his 
command.  Here  he  learned  that  one-half  of  the  Federal 
force  was  out  of  town  and  that  the  remainder  was  quartered 
in  the  town  hall. 

Dividing  his  forces  he  advanced,  attacking  the  hall  from 
different  directions.  The  garrison  fired  upon  them,  killing 
one  man ;  but  White's  men  poured  in  upon  them  such  a  well- 
directed  fire,  killing  and  wounding  ten,  that  the  rest  sur 
rendered. 

While  marching  upon  Poolesville  he  had  sent  a  detach 
ment  to  watch  the  enemy  at  Harper's  Ferry,  which  was 
lucky  enough  to  capture  and  parole  a  picket  of  twenty-six, 
thus  swelling  the  number  of  Federals  captured  on  this  raid 
to  seventy-seven. 

The  brigade  during  the  month  of  December  shifted  its 
headquarters  from  point  to  point,  according  to  the  avail- 


MAJ.    EDWARD   H.    McDONALD 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  109 

ability  of  forage,  but  gradually  moved  southward  until  about 
Christmas,  when  it  camped  at  New  Market. 

General  Jones,  when  not  on  the  march,  was  an  indefati 
gable  organizer.  While  constantly  sending  out  detached 
companies  to  deliver  attacks  at  distant  points,  he  kept  the 
rest  of  the  command  constantly  drilling  and  subjected  to  a 
rigid  discipline,  which  greatly  increased  its  efficiency. 

On  the  ist  of  December,  Company  D  of  the  Seventeenth 
Battalion,  under  Capt.  E.  H.  McDonald,  was  sent  on  a 
reconnoissance  to  Moorefield.  The  primary  object  being  to 
recruit  the  company  in  men  and  horses,  most  of  the  men 
having  homes  in  Hampshire  county. 

Upon  reaching  Moorefield,  and  being  informed  that  no 
enemy  was  in  the  neighborhood,  the  company  scattered 
through  the  town,  and  while  so  disorganized  was  surprised 
by  a  force  of  200  Federal  cavalry,  who  captured  Captain 
McDonald  and  several  of  his  men. 

On  December  the  nth,  a  portion  of  the  Seventh  Virginia, 
while  on  picket  near  Martinsburg,  was  attacked  by  a 
superior  Federal  force  and  driven  to  Darksville,  where  being 
reinforced,  it  in  turn  drove  back  the  Federals.  The  latter 
claimed  to  have  captured  thirteen  prisoners  in  this  encounter. 

December  29th,  1862,  Genl.  W.  E.  Jones  was  assigned,  by 
order  of  General  Lee,  during  the  absence  of  Jackson  from 
the  Valley,  to  the  command  of  the  Valley  District  and  of  all 
the  troops  operating  in  that  region  not  embraced  in  the 
Department  of  West  Virginia. 

Of  the  same  date  as  above  was  a  letter  to  Colonel  David 
son  at  Staunton  from  Lee,  telling  him  that  he  had  ordered 
General  Jones  to  gather  all  the  Valley  troops  and  drive  the 
enemy  beyond  the  Potomac. 


i  io  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

This  was  done  in  consequence  of  information  stating  that 
Milroy,  stationed  at  Petersburg,  was  heavily  oppressing  the 
people  of  Mineral  county. 

Also  a  letter  to  Jones  of  same  date,  directing  him  to  drive 
the  enemy  out  of  the  valley  of  the  South  Branch. 

About  the  24th  of  December,  1862,  Jones,  then  stationed 
at  New  Market,  hearing  that  Cluseret  had  entered  the  Val 
ley  at  Strasburg  and  was  moving  on  Winchester,  followed 
him  with  one  regiment  and  a  battery  to  Kernstown,  where 
a  light  skirmish  occurred,  and  Jones  withdrew  to  New 
Market. 

On  the  2nd  of  January,  1863,  Jones,  commanding  a  force 
composed  of  his  brigade  and  Chew's  Battery,  together  with 
the  First  Battalion,  Maryland  Cavalry;  First  Battalion, 
Maryland  Infantry,  and  the  Maryland  Battery,  marched  on 
Moorefield  and  reached  there  on  the  morning  of  the  3rd, 
having  marched  rapidly  in  order  to  surprise  and  overcome 
the  Federal  force  at  Moorefield  before  it  could  be  aided  by 
the  Federal  force  at  Petersburg. 

Having  selected  an  inferior  position  for  his  artillery,  the 
shells  from  his  battery  fell  short,  while  those  of  the  enemy 
reached  him. 

In  the  meantime  the  Federals  from  Petersburg  came 
within  striking  distance  and  opened  upon  his  rear.  The 
batteries  of  this  force  also  opened  on  him  with  effect,  while 
his  shots  again  failed  to  reach  them. 

The  two  wings  of  his  command  could  not  unite,  but  for 
tunately,  those  of  the  enemy  were  in  a  like  condition. 

Fearing  that  the  enemy  would  receive  reinforcements 
from  New  Creek,  he  determined  to  withdraw,  which  he  did 
after  holding  his  position  two  hours. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  1 1 1 

A  picket  of  twenty  Federals  were  captured  near  Moore- 
field  in  the  morning  by  a  part  of  the  Seventh  under  Lieu 
tenant  Vandiver,  and  the  Sixth  and  the  Seventh,  under  Col 
onel  Dulany,  captured  forty-six  more  at  Petersburg. 

Late  at  night  the  two  wings  of  Jones'  command  united 
about  ten  miles  above  Moorefield.  The  following  morning 
an  attack  was  determined  upon,  but  the  enemy  being  rein 
forced  Jones  withdrew,  having  met  with  only  partial  success. 

He  had  captured  in  all  ninety-nine  prisoners,  having  no 
loss  but  two  men  wounded. 

In  his  report  the  following  are  spoken  of  with  praise : 
Colonel  Dulany,  Lieut.  C.  H.  Vandiver,  Privates  J.  W. 
Kuykendall,  and  J.  S.  Hutton,  of  the  Seventh  Virginia 
Cavalry. 

The  attack  upon  Moorefield  in  midwinter  though  appar 
ently  fruitless,  yet  had  the  effect  of  alarming  the  Federals, 
who  thought  it  the  advance  of  a  strong  movement  down 
the  Valley  upon  Harper's  Ferry.  In  consequence,  Wash- 
burn  on  the  8th  was  ordered  to  fall  back  from  Moorefield  to 
Romney,  twenty  miles  further  north. 

Four  days  later  General  Milroy,  who  was  at  Winchester, 
telegraphed  for  help  against  a  foe  that  his  own  imagination 
had  conjured  up,  and  on  the  I7th  he  again  telegraphed  that 
Jones  with  2,700  infantry  was  between  him  and  Strasburg, 
but  adds,  "I  have  no  fears  for  this  place,"  and  ends  in  asking 
for  Washburn's  two  regiments,  saying,  "It  is  cruel  to  keep 
me  here  so  helpless." 

After  his  return  from  Moorefield  General  Jones  was 
ordered  by  General  Lee  to  organize  a  force  in  the  Valley, 
including  his  own,  Colonel  Davidson's  at  Staunton,  and 
Imboden's,  and  endeavor  to  curtail  the  operations  of  the 


H2  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

enemy  if  he  could  not  force  him  to  retire.  At  this  time  there 
was  a  great  outcry  for  this  from  the  people  of  the  lower 
Valley,  on  account  of  Milroy's  assessments  for  the  support 
of  his  army  and  of  his  brutal  treatment  of  the  non-com 
batants.  Jones  was,  however,  much  restricted  in  his  move 
ments  by  the  scarcity  of  forage,  and  midwinter  having  now 
arrived,  he  busied  himself  preparing  for  the  spring  cam 
paign,  drilling  his  men  and  recruiting  his  forces.  He  was 
always,  however,  wide-awake  and  did  not  fail  to  strike  a 
blow  when  an  opportunity  presented  itself. 

Early  in  February  the  Thirty-fifth  Battalion,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieut.-Col.  E.  V.  White,  was  detached  by  General 
Jackson  and  sent  to  arrest  certain  parties  living  in  Loudoun 
county,  Virginia. 

Milroy  still  remained  at  Winchester,  strengthening  his 
position  and  acting  the  petty  tyrant  towards  the  defenseless 
citizens  of  that  section.  He  seemed  to  think  that  he  had  mis 
sionary  as  well  as  military  duties  to  perform.  He  resorted 
to  every  kind  of  espionage  to  ascertain  the  opinion  of  the 
women,  as  well  as  the  male  non-combatants,  who  were  at 
his  mercy;  and  tried  by  threats  and  ill  treatment  of  the 
staunchest  Confederates  to  make  proselytes  to  his  political 
creed.  This  disgraceful  conduct  only  served  to  intensify  the 
loyalty  of  the  people  to  the  Southern  cause. 

General  Jones,  while  in  camp  at  New  Market,  devoted 
his  time  to*  fully  organizing  his  command  and  perfecting 
them  by  daily  drill  in  military  exercises. 

In  January  the  Seventeenth  Battalion,  increased  by  the 
addition  of  new  companies,  was  organized  into  a  regiment 
and  was  thenceforward  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  of  which 


OLIVER    RIDGWAY    FUNSTEN 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  113 

Major  Funsten,  promoted  to  a  lieutenant-colonelcy,  was  put 
in  command. 

He  entered  upon  the  work  of  regimental  organization  with 
great  zeal,  and  in  a  short  time  the  new  regiment  was  strong 
in  numbers  and  full  of  an  esprit  du  corps,  the  effect  of  which 
was  seen  at  the  first  opportunity  presented  for  its  display. 

On  the  morning  of  February  26th  an  event  occurred 
which  broke  the  monotony  of  winter  quarters.  It  was  occa 
sioned  by  the  adventurous  enterprise  of  Capt.  F.  A.  Bond 
of  Brown's  Battalion  of  Maryland  Cavalry  on  picket  near 
Strasburg. 

Having  learned  that  the  Federal  picket  near  Kernstown 
might  be  captured,  without  orders  from  General  Jones,  com 
manding  in  the  Valley,  he  attacked  the  picket  and  capturing 
them,  made  off  with  his  prisoners. 

Apparently  enraged  at  his  audacity,  about  500  Federal 
cavalry  of  the  First  New  York  and  Thirteenth  Pennsylvania 
regiments  followed  him,  in  hot  pursuit.  From  Kernstown  to 
Strasburg,  over  thirteen  miles  of  frozen  turnpike,  went 
pursuer  and  pursued. 

When  the  head  of  the  flying  column  reached  the  pickets 
of  General  Jones  they  too  joined  in  the  flight  to  some  dis 
tance  beyond  Woodstock,  still  pursued  by  the  wrathful 
Federals.  Here  they  left  the  turnpike,  and  while  some  of 
the  Federals  pursued  the  flying  pickets  up  the  Back  Road, 
which  runs  parallel  with  the  turnpike,  others  attempted  the 
capture  of  the  wagon  trains  then  in  quest  of  forage  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Woodstock.  They  were,  however,  beaten 
off  by  Col.  J.  Herbert  with  a  portion  of  the  Maryland 
infantry  encamped  near  by. 


ii4  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Hardly  had  they  returned  to  the  turnpike  when  there 
came  in  view  the  head  of  the  Confederate  column  coming 
to  punish  in  turn  the  Federal  audacity.  These  troops  had 
been  ordered  forward  from  New  Market  by  General  Jones 
at  the  first  news  of  the  Federal  dash,  and  consisted  of  a 
portion  of  the  Eleventh,  under  Colonel  Funsten,  numbering 
about  120  men.  At  the  head  of  the  column  rode  Funsten 
and  Jones. 

Says  Colonel  Funsten  in  his  report  to  General  Jones : 
"Led  by  you  we  dashed  past  their  rear  guard,  who  occupied 
an  eminence  near  the  road,  and  charged  the  rear  of  the 
column.  So  sudden  and  impetuous  was  the  attack  that 
every  attempt,  of  which  there  were  several,  made  by  their 
officers  to  form  a  line  and  rally,  was  unavailing. 

"We  pressed  them  hotly,  using  both  sabre  and  revolver 
with  good  effect,  to  Cedar  Creek  bridge,  a  distance  of  about 
twelve  miles,  where  a  part  of  them  made  a  stand.  I  halted 
the  front  of  the  column  preparatory  to  renewing  the  charge, 
my  command  being  greatly  reduced  by  the  capture  and 
guarding  of  prisoners,  of  whom  the  number  already  taken 
was  greater  than  that  with  which  I  made  the  attack.  The 
casualties  in  my  regiment  were  two  killed  and  two  wounded. 
It  is  always  a  delicate  point  to  discriminate  among  those 
who  have  done  their  duty  faithfully,  but  I  cannot  forbear 
to  mention  Captains  W.  H.  Harness,  E.  H.  McDonald,  and 
F.  A.  Dangerfield." 

Not  far  in  the  rear  of  the  Eleventh  in  this  mad  ride  for 
vengeance  thundered  the  old  Seventh.  After  a  hurried 
march  of  nineteen  miles  they  came  up  with  the  Eleventh  at 
Strasburg,  Colonel  Dulany  in  command,  and  having  with 
him  about  220  men. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  115 

Says  Dulany  in  his  report :  "When  we  reached  the  high 
ground  beyond  Strasburg,  we  found  the  enemy  had  returned 
and  again  formed  about  300  yards  south  of  Cedar  Creek. 
As  we  came  in  sight  of  each  other  they  seemed  to  advance 
slowly  towards  us,  but  when  we  got  within  200  yards,  our 
sabres  drawn,  they  wheeled  and  went  at  full  speed  towards 
the  bridge,  crossed  and  again  formed  to  receive  us.  As 
only  two  men  could  cross  the  bridge  abreast,  they  could 
easily  have  prevented  our  crossing  with  their  long-range 
guns,  since  their  position  was  very  strong  and  higher  than 
the  bridge.  Changing  the  direction  of  our  column,  we 
crossed  the  creek  at  the  ford,  some  200  yards  below  the 
bridge. 

"As  soon  as  a  portion  of  my  command  had  crossed,  the 
enemy  broke,  not  waiting  for  us  to  close  with  them." 

The  retreat  now  became  a  race,  the  best  mounted  Con 
federates  taking  the  lead.  He  continues  :  "As  we  came  up 
with  the  rear  not  a  man  that  I  saw  offered  to  surrender 
until  driven  back  by  the  sabres  of  our  men,  or  shot.  Some, 
finding  we  were  overtaking  them,  slipped  from  their  horses 
and  sought  refuge  in  the  houses  along  the  road ;  and  many 
had  thrown  their  pistols  away  when  captured." 

After  capturing  about  seventy  prisoners,  many  of  them 
wounded,  the  Seventh  halted  about  a  mile  and  a  half  beyond 
Middletown,  after  a  race  of  twenty-six  miles. 

General  Jones  in  his  report  to  Lee  says  that  his  men  cap 
tured  200  prisoners,  killing  and  wounding  many  more. 
Some  of  these  were  captured  by  Brown's  Battalion  which, 
close  behind  the  Seventh,  participated  in  the  chase.  For 
gallantry  and  wise  action  on  this  occasion,  General  Jones 
warmly  recommended  Colonel  Funsten  to  Lee  for  the 
vacant  colonelcy  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment.  The  sugges- 


1 1 6  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

tion,  approved  by  Lee,  was,  however,  disregarded  by  the 
Government,  and  not  long  afterwards  Col.  L.  L.  Lomax  was 
made  colonel  of  the  Eleventh.  Being  a  West  Point  graduate 
and  a  dashing  officer,  he  soon  won  the  confidence  of  his 
men. 

The  brilliant  affair  down  the  turnpike  furnished  food  for 
entertainment  for  many  days.  It  had  occurred  in  mid 
winter  and  served  to  vary  the  monotony  of  camp  life  and 
the  drudgery  of  the  daily  drill. 


CHAPTER  IV 

March,   1863 

Jones'  expedition  into  western  Virginia — Weak  men  and  horses  left  in 
camp — Inclement  weather  and  swollen  streams — Dangerous  cross 
ing  of  the  Potomac  at  Petersburg — Heroic  assistance  of  citizens — 
Rev.  Richard  Davis — Fight  at  Greenland  Gap — McNeil's  Rangers 
co-operate  with  Jones — Colonel  Harman  enters  Oakland,  destroys 
railroad  bridge — Cranberry  Summit — Mountaineers  unfriendly  and 
bushwhack  our  column — Capture  of  Morgantown — Bridgeport  and 
Fairmont — Destruction  of  oil  wells — A  river  on  fire — Return  to 
the  Valley — Results  of  expedition — Cross  the  Blue  Ridge  to  join 
"Jeb"  Stuart — A  grand  review — Battle  of  Brandy  Station. 

The  soldiers  of  the  brigade  were  anxious  for  another 
opportunity  to  enjoy  the  frolic  of  a  warlike  chase,  not 
dreaming  that  their  commander  was  hatching  a  scheme  that 
would  give  them  their  fill  of  marching  and  fighting. 

This  was  the  famous  West  Virginia  expedition.  For 
more  than  a  month  before  it  took  place,  General  Jones  was 
busy  studying  all  the  known  ways  of  destroying  iron 
bridges,  tunnels,  and  trestling. 

He  was  evolving  a  plan  to  do  such  destruction  to  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  exposed  as  it  was  on  account 
of  its  tunnels,  bridges,  and  trestling  to  damage  from  hostile 
parties,  that  for  six  months  at  least  no  troops  might  pass 
over  it. 

During  the  month  of  March  he  made  many  trips  to 
Staunton,  with  the  design  of  perfecting  his  preparations  for 
the  expedition. 

He  had  communicated  his  plans  to  General  Lee  and  gotten 
his  full  consent  and  approval.  Forage  was  gathered  from 
all  quarters  to  get  his  horses  in  condition  for  the  long  and 


1  1  8  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

tedious  march.  Frequent  inspections  were  held  and  the 
arms  as  well  as  horses  carefully  looked  after. 

The  soldiers  knew  instinctively  that  something  serious 
was  impending,  but  what  it  really  was  they  were  far  from 
surmising. 

Having  arranged  with  Genl.  J.  D.  Imboden  and  his  com 
mand,  for  a  concert  of  action  against  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad,  Jones  determined  to  move  on  the  2ist  of 
March. 

On  the  day  previous  orders  were  issued  to  the  regimental 
commanders  to  have  issued  eight  days'  rations  and  forty 
rounds  of  ammunition,  and  on  the  2ist  to  meet  him  at 
Brock's  Gap. 

The  men  and  horses  unfit  for  a  hard  campaign  were  left 
behind  under  Colonel  Funsten,  near  Harrisonburg,  while 
Maj.  S.  B.  Myers1  of  the  Seventh,  an  experienced  and  effi 
cient  outpost  commander,  was  stationed  near  Strasburg  with 
several  well-mounted  companies,  one  from  each  regiment  of 
the  brigade. 


j.  Samuel  B.  Myers,  of  the  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  but  having  become  thoroughly  identified  with  all  that 
pertained  to  the  home  of  his  adoption,  few  men  of  Southern  birth  and 
traditions  made  greater  sacrifices  for  the  cause  of  the  South  than  he. 

He  was  the  owner  and  operator  of  Columbia  Furnace  in  Shenandoah 
County,  Va.  Upon  the  withdrawal  of  Virginia  from  the  Union,  he  at 
once  raised  a  company  of  cavalry  among  the  sturdy  farmers  and  hearty 
mountaineers  of  the  Shenandoah  region,  which  was  one  of  the  first 
enlisted  in  the  regiment  of  Col.  Angus  McDonald,  and  was  known  as 
Company  C  of  the  famous  Seventh  regiment,  from  which  developed 
the  Ashby  Cavalry  and  Laurel  Brigade.  He  later  was  promoted  to 
major  of  the  regiment,  and  after  the  wounding  of  Colonel  Dulany, 
and  the  death  of  Lieut.  -Col.  Thos.  Marshall  he  was  usually  in  com 
mand  of  the  regiment. 

There  was  no  braver,  more  sagacious  nor  enterprising  officer  in  the 
service  than  Major  Myers.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  Orange  Court 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  1 19 

On  the  2  ist  the  column  started.  Besides  his  own  brigade 
General  Jones  took  with  him  Wiener's  Battalion  of  mounted 
riflemen,  Brown's  Battalion  of  cavalry,  and  the  Maryland 
Battalion  of  infantry  under  Colonel  Herbert,  and  what 
artillery  he  had. 

At  the  outset  the  weather  was  inclement,  and  the  con 
tinual  rains  made  the  roads  so  muddy  that  the  column  was 
forced  to  move  slowly. 

Before  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac  was  reached  it 
was  swollen  by  the  downpour,  and  all  idea  of  crossing  it  at 
Moorefield  was  abandoned. 

This  disappointment  secured  the  safety  of  the  Federal 
force  under  Colonel  Mulligan  at  Petersburg,  which  General 
Jones  had  hoped  to  intercept  and  capture. 

The  route  now  had  to  be  changed,  but  from  Moorefield 
the  wagon  train  under  convoy  of  Colonel  Herbert,  together 
with  the  artillery,  was  sent  back  with  orders  to  return  by 
way  of  Franklin  and  gather  up  the  "surplus  bacon"  along 
the  route,  which  order  was  successfully  accomplished. 

After  making  a  detour  from  the  projected  route,  the 
column,  now  relieved  of  baggage  and  artillery,  reached 
Petersburg,  where  the  river  was  found  to  be  still  high  and 

House  and  his  horse  was  shot  under  him.  The  wonder  is  he  was  not 
killed  in  battle.  He  had  many  narrow  escapes  and  several  horses  were 
killed  under  him.  Among  others  his  favorite  white  charger  "Bill."' 
He  was  stricken  with  a  disease  incident  to  the  exposures  of  the  war 
and  died  at  his  home,  on  the  25th  of  February,  1865.  He  was  appre 
ciated  and  beloved  both  by  the  soldiers  of  the  Laurel  Brigade  and  by 
the  people  throughout  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

During  the  absence  of  the  Brigade  under  General  James  in  West 
Virginia,  Major  Myers  was  left  in  the  Valley  with  three  companies  of 
cavalry.  With  these  he  planned  and  executed  a  successful  ambuscade 
upon  the  Federals  south  of  Strasburg,  in  which  he  killed,  wounded  and 
captured  a  large  number. 


I2O  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

dangerous  to  cross.  Men  who  would  be  quick  to  charge  a 
battery  if  ordered,  were  appalled  at  the  rushing,  angry 
waters.  Besides  the  ford  was  exceedingly  rough  unless  the 
exact  path  was  followed. 

Men  with  weak  horses  were  not  forced  to  attempt  the 
ford,  and  a  few  here  turned  back.  A  number  of  citizens 
of  the  neighborhood,  loyal  to  the  South,  and  who  were 
familiar  with  the  crossing,  having  provided  themselves  with 
long  poles,  boldly  rode  out  into  the  river  and  took  stations 
at  regular  intervals  along  the  ford,  with  their  horses'  heads 
directly  up  stream.  They  constantly  warned  the  troopers 
to  keep  their  horses'  heads  up  stream,  and  when  a  horse 
would  start  down  would  tap  him  on  the  neck  with  a  pole, 
and  thus  help  to  keep  him  in  the  ford. 

There  was  no  bantering  nor  frivolity  among  the  men, 
each  one  realizing  the  danger  and  the  necessity  of  keeping 
his  horse  in  the  ford.  While  there  were  only  one  or  two 
men  actually  drowned,  there  were  many  narrow  escapes,  a 
notable  one  being  that  of  Sergt.-Maj.  James  Figgat  of 
the  Twelfth,  whose  horse  falling,  he  was  swept  off,  but 
grasping  the  tail  of  a  trooper's  horse  nearest  him,  was  towed 
across  in  safety. 

The  following  is  General  Jones'  official  report  of  the 
incident:  "When  but  a  part  of  the  Sixth  Virginia,  the 
leading  regiment,  had  crossed  one  man  and  horse  were 
drowned  and  two  others  narrowly  escaped.  But  for  the 
timely  assistance  of  Messrs.  Hattan,  Cunningham,  and 
other  citizens  of  Petersburg,  and  Private  Aaron  Welton, 
our  loss  must  have  been  serious.  The  bravery  and  hardi 
hood  evinced  by  them  on  this  occasion  is  worthy  of  the 
highest  praise.  The  conduct  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Davis,  chap 
lain  of  the  Sixth,  was  here  conspicuously  good.  His 


MAJ.    SAMUEL    B.    MYERS 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  121 

example,  courage,  and  abiding  faith  in  Providence  won  the 
admiration  of  all." 

After  leaving  Petersburg  the  route  lay  through  Greenland 
Gap.  Contrary  to  information  received,  this  pass  was 
occupied  by  the  enemy,  who  had  constructed  entrenchments 
around  a  log  church.  The  position  could  have  been  turned, 
but  the  time  consumed  would  have  created  delay  enough  to 
probably  endanger  the  success  of  the  general  plan.  Accord 
ingly  General  Jones  determined  to  take  the  position  by 
assault. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Marshall  with  a  portion  of  the 
Seventh  was  ordered  to  charge  the  works  supported  by  Col. 
R.  H.  Dulany  with  the  rest  of  the  Seventh. 

The  charge  was  gallantly  made.  The  enemy,  apprised  of 
the  attempt,  were  fully  prepared  and  received  the  bold 
troopers  with  a  well-directed  volley  that  emptied  several 
saddles.  The  Seventh,  however,  pressed  forward  and  the 
Federals  were  forced  to  retreat  into  the  log  church  and  a 
house  near  by.  With  port-holes  between  the  logs  they  could 
fire  with  a  sense  of  security  and  with  great  accuracy  against 
an  enemy  that  had  no  artillery. 

In  the  charge  of  the  Seventh,  Colonel  Dulany  was 
unhorsed  with  a  severe  wound  in  the  arm,  and  lay  within 
easy  range  of  the  Federal  marksmen.  The  outlook  was 
very  unpromising,  but  General  Jones  was  bent  on  taking 
the  position. 

Some  of  the  Seventh  had  gotten  past  the  church  and  were 
in  the  rear  of  it.  The  sharpshooters  of  the  Seventh  secured 
the  woods  and  hillside  on  the  left.  The  mounted  riflemen 
of  Lieut.-Col.  V.  A.  Wiener's  Battalion,  under  Captain 
Chapman,  were  dismounted  and  thrown  to  the  right.  With 
great  boldness  they  penetrated  close  to  the  building  and 


122  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

secured  the  stone  works  erected  by  the  enemy.  A  flag  was 
sent  out  demanding  a  surrender.  Upon  this  being  scorn 
fully  refused,  preparations  were  made  to  storm  the  buildings 
and,  if  necessary,  to  burn  or  blow  them  up. 

The  dismounted  men  of  Brown's  and  White's  Bat 
talions,  under  their  respective  leaders,  advanced  to  the 
assault,  while  the  Pioneer  Corps,  under  Lieut.  William  G. 
Williamson,  moved  forward  with  torches  and  powder  ready 
for  blowing  up  the  buildings. 

In  the  charge  White's  men  "crossed  a  rocky  and  rapid 
stream  in  the  face  of  a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy  in  the 
church,  and  an  enfilading  fire  from  a  portion  of  those  con 
cealed  in  a  building  to  the  right  of  the  church.  They 
rushed  bravely  on  until  they  arrived  at  the  church,  where, 
knocking  out  the  chinking  and  firing  through  the  holes,  they 
soon  drove  the  enemy  from  one  side  of  the  house. 

"In  the  meantime  the  Pioneer  Corps  coming  up,  broke 
out  the  window,  set  fire  to  a  bundle  of  straw  and  threw  it  in, 
thus  firing  the  lower  part  of  the  building."1 

Fortunately  for  the  assailants,  General  Jones  had  delayed 
the  assault  until  near  dark.  This  saved  the  Confederates 
from  a  much  heavier  loss.  In  the  charge  only  four  of  the 
assailing  column  were  killed  and  eight  or  ten  wounded. 
General  Jones'  entire  loss  was  seven  killed  and  twenty-two 
wounded.  The  enemy  lost  two  killed  and  six  or  eight 
wounded  and  eighty  prisoners.  Four  wagons  and  teams 
and  one  ambulance  were  captured. 

The  stubborn  resistance  of  the  Federals  greatly  enraged 
the  Confederates,  who  had  suffered  much  the  greater  loss. 
Some  insisted  that  the  prisoners  should  be  killed,  but  Gen- 


iColonel  White's  Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  123 

eral  Jones  said  :  "They  fought  like  brave  men  and  did  their 
duty.  They  shall  receive  honorable  treatment." 

The  same  evening  a  "Swamp  Dragon,"  one  of  a  robber 
gang  that  was  justly  charged  with  atrocious  crimes,  was 
brought  before  him.  The  captor  requested  that  he  might 
kill  him.  Said  General  Jones :  "You  should  never  have 
taken  him  alive,  but  since  you  have  brought  him  to  me,  he 
shall  be  treated  as  a  prisoner  of  war." 

From  Greenland  Gap  the  column  advanced  towards  the 
North  Western  Grade.  "Upon  reaching  this  Col.  A.  W. 
Harman  was  sent  with  the  Twelfth  Virginia,  Brown's  Bat 
talion,  and  McNeil's  Company  of  Partisan  Rangers  to  burn 
the  railroad  bridge  at  Oakland,  Maryland,  and  to  march 
from  there  by  way  of  Kingwood  to  Morgantown. 

"A  squadron  of  the  Eleventh,  under  Capt.  E.  H. 
McDonald,  was  sent  from  the  same  point  to  Altamont, 
twelve  miles  east  of  Oakland,  to  burn  some  small  bridges 
and  then  to  follow  and  join  Colonel  Harman. 

"The  remainder  of  the  force  moved  on  Rowlesburg. 
arriving  at  Cheat  River  about  t\vo  P.  M.,  April  26th. 

"Having  captured  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  and  learning 
that  there  was  a  garrison  of  only  300  men  at  Rowlesburg, 
Col.  J.  S.  Green,  commanding  the  Sixth  Virginia,  was 
ordered  to  charge  the  place,  the  Seventh,  under  Colonel 
Marshall,  and  the  Eleventh,  under  Colonel  Lomax,  to  form 
his  support. 

"Capt.  O.  L.  Weems  of  the  Eleventh,  with  eighty  sharp 
shooters  of  his  regiment  and  a  part  of  Wicher's  Battalion, 
was  sent  across  the  hills  from  the  bridge  on  the  North 
Western  Grade  to  attack  the  east  end  of  the  railroad  bridge 
at  Rowlesburg  and  to  burn  it  at  all  hazards."2 


2General  Jones'  Report. 


124  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  attempt  on  Rowlesburg  failed,  and  General  Jones 
deemed  it  best  to  move  on,  leaving  the  railroad  bridge  and 
trestlework  unharmed. 

He  had  now  penetrated  far  into  the  enemy's  country. 
Forage  was  scarce  and  food  for  his  men  hard  to  procure. 

Rumors  of  advancing  columns  of  the  enemy  from  several 
directions  reached  him.  The  country  people  were  un 
friendly,  and  frequently  in  the  mountain  passes  his  march 
ing  column  was  fired  into  by  bushwhackers. 

General  Irnboden  up  to  this  time  had  failed  to  unite  forces 
with  him  or  even  to  communicate  with  him  as  to  his  location 
and  movements. 

Next  day  Jones  moved  on  to  Evansville,  and  late  in  the 
evening  learned  that  Lieut.  C.  H.  Vandiver  and  a  party  of 
eight  men  had  captured  the  town  of  Independence  and  the 
home  guard  of  twenty  men.  A  force  was  immediately 
thrown  into  Independence  and  the  bridge  near  by  was 
effectually  destroyed. 

"At  daylight  Harman  joined  the  brigade,  bringing  the 
first  tidings  of  his  and  McDonald's  success  at  Oakland  and 
Altamont."3 

Colonel  Harman  had  moved  with  his  usual  celerity  upon 
Oakland,  capturing  a  company  of  fifty-seven  Federals. 
After  destroying  the  railroad  bridge  east  of  the  town  and 
the  railroad  and  turnpike  bridges  over  the  Youghiogheny 
River,  he  moved  on  to  Cranberry  Summit,  where  he  cap 
tured  the  guard  of  fifteen  men  and  destroyed  the  railroad 
property. 

In  the  meantime  Captain  McDonald  with  a  squadron  of 
the  Eleventh  had  burned  the  bridges  at  Altamont,  and 
following  up  Colonel  Harman's  line  of  march  was  endeavor- 

3General  Jones'  Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  125 

ing  to  overtake  him.  Harman,  however,  with  scrupulous 
care  was  burning  all  the  bridges  over  which  he  crossed. 
Besides,  his  burning  of  bridges  had  roused  the  mountaineers, 
and  the  woods  became  alive  with  bushwhackers  ready  to 
waylay  the  now  perplexed  squadron  of  the  Eleventh.  After 
fording  many  deep  streams  and  continuously  marching, 
Captain  McDonald  succeeded  in  joining  Harman. 

April  the  27th,  the  day  of  the  capture  of  Oakland,  being 
Sunday,  and  the  hour  about  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  good 
people  of  the  town  had  just  turned  out  for  church.  The 
late  Hon.  William  L.  Wilson,  sometime  member  of  Con 
gress  from  West  Virginia,  and  Postmaster-General  under 
President  Cleveland,  was  a  private  in  Company  B  of  the 
Twelfth  Virginia  Regiment,  which  led  the  charge  into  the 
town.  Wilson,  than  whom  there  was  no  braver  nor  more 
efficient  soldier  in  the  Southern  army,  and  who  was  natur 
ally  of  a  jocular  and  cheery  disposition,  seeing  a  young  man 
and  young  woman  together  apparently  agitated  at  the 
sudden  appearance  of  the  Confederates,  addressed  some 
reassuring  remarks  to  them. 

"Don't  you  think  the  Rebels  are  better  looking  men  than 
the  Yankees  ?"  said  Wilson  to  the  young  woman. 

"Not  you,  anyway,  with  that  moustache  the  color  of 
buttermilk !"  replied  the  girl. 

The  laugh  was  on  Wilson,  who  had  been  cultivating  with 
some  pride  the  then  budding  moustache  which  in  after  life 
contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  his  pleasing  and  striking 
appearance. 

The  whole  command  reuniting  on  the  28th  of  April 
marched  on  Morgantown,  and  arriving  there  about  noon 
crossed  the  suspension  bridge  to  the  west  side  of  the  Monon- 
gahela  River.  Here  a  halt  was  made  of  a  few  hours.  At 


126  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

dark  the  column  moved  on  Fairmont.  Approaching  the 
town  from  the  west  it  was  discovered  that  the  hills  com 
manding  the  road  were  occupied  by  the  enemy.  By  turn 
ing  to  the  right  the  position  was  flanked  and  the  Con 
federates  entered  the  town  at  a  charge  pell-mell  with  the 
flying  Federals.  The  enemy  retreated  up  the  river  by  both 
the  east  and  the  west  banks,  uniting  with  the  force  of 
Federals  stationed  for  a  guard  at  the  railroad  bridge.  The 
Confederates  pursued  vigorously,  and  after  a  brief  conflict 
the  Federals  on  the  west  bank,  numbering  260,  raised  the 
white  flag  and  surrendered. 

The  prisoners'  arms  were  hardly  stacked  before  a  Federal 
reinforcement  arrived  on  the  scene,  consisting  of  artillery 
and  infantry.  Their  first  salutation  was  a  round  volley  of 
artillery  and  musketry  which  to  many  of  the  Confederates 
was  the  first  indication  of  their  presence. 

Colonel  Marshall  at  once  moved  his  horses  under  shelter 
of  a  hill,  and  dismounting  his  men  armed  them  with  the 
captured  muskets  of  the  enemy. 

The  volleys  of  the  Federals  were  now  quickly  returned, 
and  "the  reception  of  the  newcomers  was  soon  too  warm 
for  a  long  tarry." 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  Colonel  Harman,  with 
the  Twelfth  and  the  skirmishers  from  the  Eleventh, 
Brown's  Battalion  and  White's  Battalion,  pushed  the  enemy 
vigorously.  The  Federal  reinforcements  on  Harman's  side 
were  driven  off,  and  he  asked  for  reinforcements  to  enable 
him  to  capture  the  whole  command.  "But,"  says  General 
Jones,  "as  the  bridge  was  my  main  object,  I  preferred  to 
exert  my  whole  energy  in  its  destruction,  and  to  allow  the 
troops  who  could  do  me  no  more  harm  to  escape."4 

4Jones'  Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  127 

Under  the  supervision  of  Lieutenant  Williamson  and  Cap 
tain  Henderson  the  work  of  destruction  now  began,  and 
soon  after  dark  the  magnificent  structure  tumbled  into  the 
river.  The  bridge  was  of  iron,  three  spans,  each  300  feet. 

In  the  charge  on  the  town  one  piece  of  artillery  was  cap 
tured  by  Lieut.  B.  F.  Conard  and  four  men  of  Company  A, 
White's  Battalion.  It  was  afterwards  spiked  and  thrown 
into  the  river. 

In  this  affair  General  Jones'  loss  was  three  wounded; 
that  of  the  enemy,  twelve  killed  and  many  wounded,  besides 
250  prisoners. 

Leaving  the  wounded  in  the  hands  of  friends,  at  dark  the 
command  moved  on,  still  indulging  in  the  hope  that  General 
Imboden  would  soon  be  found.  Learning  that  Clarksburg 
was  occupied  by  the  enemy,  the  Monongahela  was  crossed 
and  the  Federal  force  at  Bridgeport,  five  miles  east  of 
Clarksburg,  was  captured,  the  work  being  done  by  the 
Maryland  cavalry  under  Maj.  R.  Brown. 

As  nothing  better  offered  itself  at  this  point,  a  bridge  to 
the  left  of  the  town  was  destroyed  and  a  captured  train  run 
into  the  stream. 

The  next  day  an  early  start  was  made  towards  Philippi, 
and  along  the  march  many  horses  and  some  cattle  were 
picked  up. 

Upon  reaching  Philippi  about  noon,  the  led  horses  and 
cattle  were  sent  off  to  Beverly,  and  the  rest  of  the  command 
moved  towards  Buckhannon,  where  there  was  constant 
expectation  of  falling  in  with  Imboden's  command. 

On  May  the  2nd,  a  few  miles  from  Buckhannon  the  first 
certain  intelligence  of  him  was  received  from  one  of  his  men 
on  furlough,  who  met  Jones'  column  in  the  road.  From 


128  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

him  it  was  learned  that  Imboden  was  at  Buckhannon,  at 
which  place  the  two  commands  soon  united. 

A  joint  movement  was  now  made  upon  Clarksburg.  At 
Weston,  after  a  rest  of  two  days,  the  attempt  upon  Clarks 
burg  was  abandoned  and  the  commands  separated,  General 
Imboden  going  southward,  while  General  Jones  went  for 
ward  to  destroy  the  Northwestern  Railroad. 

On  the  6th  of  May  Colonel  Harman,  with  the  Eleventh 
and  Twelfth  and  Wicher's  Battalion,  moved  on  West  Union, 
while  with  the  rest  of  his  command  General  Jones  went  to 
destroy  the  railroad  at  Cairo. 

Colonel  Harman  found  the  garrison  at  West  Union  too 
strong  to  be  dislodged,  but  feigning  an  attack  with  a  part 
of  his  force,  he  diverted  their  attention,  while  with  the 
remainder  he  succeeded  in  burning  the  bridges  east  and 
west  of  the  town  and  capturing  nineteen  prisoners. 

At  Cairo  General  Jones  gained  an  easy  victory.  The 
garrison  of  twenty-one  men  surrendered  without  firing  a 
gun. 

The  fruits  of  the  victory  hardly  paid  for  the  trouble  of 
gaining  it,  the  cavalry,  already  well  jaded,  having  marched 
eighty  miles  without  unsaddling. 

The  command  now  moved  on  Oil  Town,  and  the  work 
done  there  made  a  lasting  impression  upon  those  engaged 
in  it. 

The  oil  wells  were  owned  mainly  by  Southern  men  who 
had  been  driven  from  their  homes  and  their  property  appro 
priated  by  the  Federal  Government  or  by  Northern  men.5 
This,  it  appears,  was  the  chief  reason  for  destroying  the 
works.  All  the  oil  tanks,  barrels,  engines  for  pumping, 
engine-houses,  wagons,  etc.,  were  burned. 
^General  Jones'  Report. 


COL.    RICHARD    H.    DULANY 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  129 

"The  boats  filled  with  oil  in  bulk  burst  with  a  report 
almost  equal  to  artillery  and  spread  the  burning  fluid  over 
the  river." 

Flowing  over  the  surface  of  the  meandering  streams  that 
led  to  the  river  the  fiery  wave  rolled  on  with  the  current. 
Soon  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  the  river  was  on  fire, 
sending  up  dense  columns  of  black  smoke  that  by  contrast 
increased  the  brightness  of  the  conflagration. 

General  Jones  had  strict  orders  from  General  Lee  to 
respect  private  property.  He  did  all  he  could  to  have  these 
orders  obeyed  by  the  troops  and  never  overlooked  a  violation 
of  them  even  when  circumstances  greatly  palliated  the  act. 
It  was  hardly  to  be  expected  that  men  traveling  through  a 
hostile  country,  themselves  and  horses  at  times  almost 
starved,  would  wait  for  permission  from  the  proper 
authority  to  gratify  their  pressing  wants.  Stores  were  fre 
quently  plundered,  although  General  Jones  more  than  once 
punished  those  caught  in  the  act ;  on  one  occasion  belaboring 
with  his  sabre  a  soldier  who  had  tied  behind  his  saddle  a 
bundle  of  hoop-skirts. 

Two  saw-mills  were  burned,  one  at  Fairmont  that  was 
engaged  in  making  gun-stocks  for  the  Federal  Government, 
and  another  at  Cairo  because  it  would  have  been  used  to 
saw  material  to  repair  the  damages  done  to  the  railroad. 

From  Oil  Town  the  command  moved  to  Summerville, 
where  General  Imboden  and  his  force  were  found,  and  the 
raiders  now  turned  their  faces  homeward.  The  work  of 
destruction  had  been  done.  Many  cattle  had  been  seized  and 
nearly  every  trooper  returned  leading  a  captured  horse. 

In  thirty  days  Jones'  command  had  marched  700  miles, 
gathering  by  the  way  subsistence  for  man  and  horse.  Some 


130  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

twenty-five  or  thirty  of  the  enemy  had  been  killed,  three 
times  that  number  wounded,  and  700  prisoners  captured. 

It  had  burned  sixteen  railroad  bridges  and  rendered  use 
less  one  tunnel,  thus  for  quite  a  time  interrupting-  the  use  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  for  the  Federals ;  but  what 
was  most  important,  they  had  brought  back  for  the  use  of 
the  Confederacy  1,000  cattle  and  1,200  horses. 

The  entire  loss  of  the  Confederates  upon  the  raid  was  ten 
killed  and  forty-two  wounded. 

"Throughout  this  arduous  march,"  says  General  Jones, 
"the  men  and  officers  have  evinced  a  cheerful  endurance 
worthy  of  tried  veterans.  They  have  shown  skill  in  glean 
ing  a  precarious  subsistence  from  a  country  desolated  by  two 
years  of  oppressive  tyranny  and  brutal  war  that  would  have 
won  the  admiration  of  the  most  approved  Cossack."6 

General  Lee,  in  his  endorsement  of  General  Jones'  report, 
says  :  "The  expedition  under  General  Jones  appears  to  have 
been  conducted  with  commendable  skill  and  vigor,  and  was 
productive  of  beneficial  results.  The  injury  inflicted  on  the 
enemy  was  serious,  and  he  will  doubtless  be  induced  to  keep 
troops  to  guard  the  railroad  that  otherwise  might  be 
employed  against  us.  General  Jones  displayed  sagacity  and 
boldness  in  his  plans  and  was  well  supported  by  the  courage 
and  fortitude  of  his  officers  and  men." 

On  its  return  the  last  week  in  May,  the  brigade  rested  a 
few  days  in  camp  at  Mt.  Crawford,  and  in  the  first  week  in 
June  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge  to  join  the  cavalry  corps  of 
"Jeb"  Stuart  near  Culpeper  Court  House. 


°General  Jones'  Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  131 

On  the  5th  of  June  a  grand  review  of  all  the  cavalry  of  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was  held  in  the  plains  between 
Brandy  Station  and  Culpeper  Court  House. 

Upon  a  commanding  point  from  which  could  be  seen  the 
whole  corps  as  it  was  marshaled  for  the  display,  Stuart 
watched  their  motions  with  admiring  eye  and  waited  for 
them  to  pass  in  review. 

The  soldierly  pride  of  each  body  from  company  to  brigade 
was  stirred,  and  as  they  marched  in  squadron  front  past 
their  commander  even  the  horses  seemed  to  know  that  they 
were  on  dress  parade. 

Each  regiment  appeared  different  from  every  other,  and 
in  turn  evinced  some  peculiarity  that  evoked  admiration 
from  the  lookers-on. 

The  Carolinians  were  easily  distinguished.  They  rode 
with  military  primness  and  were  mounted  on  steeds  of  deli 
cately-shaped  limbs  with  glistening  eyes  and  full  of  fire  and 
motion.  At  their  head  rode  Wade  Hampton,  then  in  the  full 
bloom  of  manhood  and  looking  every  inch  the  soldier  he 
proved  himself  to  be. 

The  Lower  Virginians  challenged  attention  by  the  grace 
ful  nonchalance  of  their  riding,  and  the  ease  with  which 
they  moved  along,  yet  having  the  steady  front  of  veterans. 

The  Valley  and  Piedmont  men,  of  which  Jones'  brigade 
was  composed,  were  from  the  blue-grass  section,  and  the 
strong,  well-limbed  horses  gave  to  their  squadrons  an 
impression  of  massive  and  warlike  strength.  The  riders  like 
centaurs  appeared  almost  one  with  their  steeds.  General 
Jones  rode  at  their  head,  evidently  proud  of  his  command, 
but  with  disdainful  air,  for  he  hated  the  "pomp  and  circum 
stance  of  war." 


132  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Among  scenes  that  made  good  riding  conspicuous,  and 
where  there  seemed  to  be  some  enjoyment  of  glory  won  in 
previous  battles,  not  a  few  missed  the  lamented  Ashby,  the 
recollection  of  whose  surpassing  horsemanship  brought  back 
so  vividly  his  short  but  glorious  career. 

Stuart's  8,000  horsemen  first  passed  the  grandstand  at  a 
walk,  then  rounding  their  circuit  went  by  at  a  charge,  while 
the  guns  of  the  artillery  battalion  on  an  opposite  eminence 
lent  to  the  scene  the  charms  of  mimic  warfare. 

When  the  "performances"  were  ended  the  men  returned 
to  camp,  having  gained  that  day  much  information  in 
regard  to  the  cavalry's  strength,  and  were  inspired  with 
additional  esprit  du  corps. 

Many,  however,  grumbled  at  the  useless  waste  of  energy, 
especially  that  of  the  horses ;  and  when  it  was  announced  a 
few  days  afterwards  that  there  was  to  be  another  grand 
review  on  the  8th,  the  grumblers  were  even  more  numerous 
and  outspoken.  Complaints,  however,  ceased  in  a  measure 
when  it  was  learned  that  Genl.  Robert  E.  Lee  was  to  be  pres 
ent  and  witness  the  review. 

On  the  appointed  day  the  corps  again  assembled  and 
marched  in  review.  General  Lee,  always  careful  to  husband 
the  energies  of  his  troops,  would  not  allow  the  squadrons 
to  charge  nor  the  artillery  to  fire,  and  the  ambitious  eques 
trians  had  to  content  themselves  with  marching  at  a  walk 
past  the  grandstand. 

Lee  had  already  begun  moving  his  army  northward  to 
enter  upon  his  Gettysburg  campaign,  and  the  cavalry  was 
ordered  to  camp  towards  the  Rappahannock  and  hold  the 
fords  of  that  river. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  133 

Jones'  brigade  had  particular  charge  of  the  road  that 
crossed  at  Beverly  Ford.  On  the  night  of  the  8th  the  Sixth 
Virginia  held  Jones'  front,  picketing  Beverly  Ford  and 
camping  near  St.  James'  Church. 

Nearby  and  somewhat  in  advance  of  them  the  battalion  of 
horse  artillery  bivouacked;  for  orders  had  already  been 
issued  to  march  at  an  early  hour  the  next  day. 

From  this  point  the  river  was  distant  about  two  miles, 
and  the  road  for  half  the  distance  was  shut  in  by  continuous 
forests  until  an  eminence  is  reached  that  commands  the 
country  about  Beverly  Ford. 

Jones'  men  lay  down  that  night  little  dreaming  that  there 
would  be  fought  on  the  morrow  the  greatest  cavalry  battle 
of  the  Civil  War,  or  indeed  of  modern  times,  on  the  very 
ground  where  they  -had  passed  in  the  harmless  review. 
There  were  some,  however,  who  thought  the  Yankees  would 
soon  come  over  the  river  to  inquire  the  meaning  of  all  the 
reviews  reported  by  their  scouts. 

In  the  meantime  General  Pleasonton,  commanding  the 
Federal  cavalry,  had  determined  upon  making  a  recon- 
noissance  in  force  across  the  Rappahannock,  in  order  to 
press  in  Lee's  outposts  and  unmask  the  position  and  move 
ments  of  the  main  army.  So,  on  the  8th  of  June,  while  the 
Confederates  were  engaged  in  their  pageantry,  the  Federals 
were  concentrating  for  an  advance  next  clay  over  the  fords 
of  the  Rappahannock  in  the  direction  of  Culpeper  Court 
House. 

Pleasonton's  force  consisted  of  three  divisions  of  cavalry 
and  two  of  infantry,  with  one  reserve  cavalry  brigade  in 
addition.  One  column,  including  the  first  cavalry  division, 
the  reserve  cavalry  brigade  and  one  brigade  of  infantry,  all 


134  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

under  the  command  of  Genl.  John  Buford,  crossed  at 
Beverly  Ford.  The  remainder  of  the  force  under  General 
Gregg  was  sent  across  by  Kelly's  Ford,  about  four  miles 
below  the  railroad  bridge,  Pleasonton  accompanying  the 
column  under  Buford. 

As  no  fires  were  left  in  the  Federal  bivouac  on  the  night 
of  the  8th,  the  Confederates  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock  remained  in  profound  ignorance  of  the  designs 
of  the  enemy.  The  rattle  of  small  arms  at  the  ford  in  the 
early  dawn  conveyed  the  first  information  of  the  hostile 
movement. 

At  the  head  of  the  advancing  Federal  column  was  the 
Eighth  New  York  Cavalry  under  the  command  of  Col.  B.  F. 
Davis.  It  was  met  at  the  ford  by  Company  A  of  the  Sixth 
Virginia,  under  Captain  Gibson,  and  gallantly  resisted. 
Yielding  to  numbers  the  company  gradually  fell  back,  being 
favored  in  their  retreat  by  ditches  in  the  low  grounds  on 
either  side  of  the  road,  which,  by  preventing  an  attack 
towards  their  flank  and  rear,  confined  the  assault  to  the 
limits  of  the  narrow  road. 

In  the  meantime  the  Sixth  Regiment  was  aroused.  The 
call  to  arms  was  quickly  responded  to,  and  in  a  short  time 
Maj.  C.  E.  Flournoy,  hastily  getting  together  about  150 
men,  came  rapidly  to  the  rescue.  Charging  down  the  road 
he  struck  with  vigor  the  head  of  the  Federal  column  and 
forced  it  back  for  a  short  distance. 

The  fight  was  at  close  quarters,  and  for  a  short  time  was 
fierce  and  bloody.  In  a  few  minutes  the  Sixth  sustained  a 
loss  of  thirty  men,  that  of  the  enemy  being  probably  less. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  135 

Yielding  to  superior  numbers,  Major  Flournoy  slowly  fell 
back,  the  enemy  being  loath  to  pursue,  as  appears  from  the 
following  incident : 

"Lieut.  Owen  Allen  of  Company  D,  who  was  in  the  charge 
above  mentioned,  was  riding  in  the  rear  of  Flournoy's  retreat 
ing  column.  Seeing  a  Federal  Officer  in  the  road  some  sev 
enty-five  yards  in  front  of  his  column,  which  was  halted,  Allen 
advanced  upon  him  with  his  horse  at  a  canter. 

"The  officer's  attention  was  given  to  his  own  men,  to  whom 
he  was  waiving  his  sword  as  if  to  order  them  forward. 
Remembering  that  he  had  but  one  shot  in  his  pistol,  Allen 
reserved  fire  until  within  swords  length  of  his  foe.  Per 
ceiving  his  danger,  Colonel  Davis  turned  upon  Allen  with  a 
cut  of  his  sabre,  which  Allen  avoided  by  throwing  himself  on 
the  side  of  his  horse,  and  at  the  same  moment  fired  and  Colonel 
Davis  fell.  He  met  a  soldier's  fate,  and  at  the  hands  of  one  as 
brave  and  daring  as  himself. 

"Sergeant  Stone  of  Company  H,  Sixth  Regiment,  and 
Private  G.  Larue  of  Company  D  now  came  forward  to  the 
assistance  of  Lieutenant  Allen.  Others  of  the  enemy  advanced 
at  the  same  moment,  when  Sergeant  Stone  was  killed  almost 
instantly,  and  Allen  and  Larue,  finding  themselves  alone  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  force,  made  a  hasty  retreat  to  their  own 
lines."7 

In  the  meantime  the  Seventh,  under  Lieut. -Col.  Thomas 
Marshall,  had  already  reached  the  field  and  struck  the  enemy 
on  the  left  of  the  Sixth. 

General  Jones  was  with  them  and  had  brought  the  brigade 
off  in  such  a  hurry  that  many  of  the  men  rode  bareback  into 
the  fight. 

Indeed  there  was  no  time  for  dallying.  Not  far  from  the 
enemy,  and  far  in  advance  of  any  support,  was  the  battalion 

7McClellan's  "Campaigns  of  Stuart,"  page  265. 


136  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

of  horse  artillery,  which  the  bold  dash  of  the  Confederates 
alone  saved  f  romi  capture. 

As  the  Seventh  approached  the  enemy  on  the  left  of  the 
Sixth,  which  was  charging  down  the  road,  it  came  under  the 
fire  of  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  protected  by  woods.  Con 
tinuing  to  advance  it  dispersed  the  sharpshooters,  and  pene 
trating  the  forest  some  distance  encountered  a  large  body  of 
Federals. 

After  a  brief  encounter,  in  which  two  men  of  the  Seventh 
were  killed,  Marshall  was  ordered  to  fall  back.  Retiring 
slowly,  he,  with  dismounted  men,  retarded  the  Federal 
advance. 

Two  guns  of  Hart's  Battery  were  now  in  position  in  the 
road  and  had  opened  on  the  enemy.  When  the  Seventh 
retired  these  guns  were  without  support,  but  the  gallant 
artillery  covered  their  own  retreat,  keeping  the  enemy  at  bay 
with  canister. 

The  Federals  had  now  been  retarded  long  enough  to  allow 
the  wagons  to  move  to  the  rear,  and  the  artillery  to  be  put  in 
position  near  St.  James'  Church. 

General  Jones  formed  his  line  in  connection  with  the 
artillery,  bringing  up  to  their  support  the  Eleventh  and 
Twelfth  regiments  and  the  Thirty-fifth  Battalion. 

The  Seventh  had  in  the  fighting  gotten  far  off  to  the  left, 
and  for  the  rest  of  the  day  participated  with  W.  F.  Lee's 
brigade  in  its  repulse  of  the  enemy. 

The  Sixth  veered  to  the  right,  and  united  with  Hampton, 
who  had  now  come  up  and  formed  on  Jones'  right. 

There  was  now  a  slight  breathing  spell  on  Jones'  front, 
which  faced  an  open  field,  beyond  which  was  a  thick  woods, 
from  which  Federal  sharpshooters  delivered  a  scattering  fire, 


Ofcl 


COL.    E.  V.   WHITE 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  137 

but  their  heavy  columns  did  not  continue  to  advance.  Genl. 
W.  F.  Lee  was  pressing  their  right  flank,  while  Hampton 
had  partially  enveloped  their  left. 

Jones  was  now  ordered  to  move  forward  and  press  their 
center.  With  the  Twelfth  in  front,  under  Col.  A.  W.  Har- 
man;  the  Thirty-fifth  Battalion,  under  Lieut.-Col.  E.  V. 
White;  and  the  Eleventh,  under  Colonel  Lomax,  on  the 
left,  Jones  advanced.  The  edge  of  the  woods  held  by  the 
enemy  smoked  with  the  rifles  of  hidden  sharpshooters  as  the 
grey  squadrons  crossed  the  open  grounds  in  front  of  the 
woods.  Just  as  Harman  reached  the  forest,  a  murderous 
volley  was  poured  into  his  ranks,  and  Buford's  troopers 
came  charging  up  the  road  right  upon  them. 

The  head  of  the  Twelfth  was  shattered,  and  out  into  the 
fields  rushed  the  Federals.  The  bulk  of  the  Twelfth  was 
still  fighting,  and  the  Eleventh  and  White's  battalion  rushed 
into  the  melee. 

There  was  now  charging  and  countercharging.  Squad 
rons  cut  in  two  and,  again  reuniting,  turned  upon  the  daring 
foe.  Grey  and  blue  were  intermingled ;  men  were  captured 
and  recaptured,  and  for  a  brief  space  the  issue  was  doubtful. 

In  the  midst  of  the  tumult  of  battle  the  Sixth  Pennsyl 
vania  and  the  Sixth  United  States  Regulars  made  a  most 
daring  charge.  Breaking  through  the  fighting  squadrons  in 
the  open  field,  they  made  straight  for  the  Confederate  guns 
at  the  church.  Shrapnel  and  canister  greeted  them,  but  they 
rode  on  undismayed,  and  dashing  up  to  the  very  muzzles 
went  past  the  guns. 

Immediately  they  were  attacked  on  both  flanks  by  Jones' 
and  Hampton's  squadrons  and  driven  back;  and  though 


138  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

they  suffered  heavy  loss,  they  returned  as  they  came,  with 
ranks  well  closed  up. 

Again  there  was  a  breathing  spell,  and  nothing  but  the 
dropping  fire  of  the  skirmishers  on  General  Lee's  front  broke 
the  stillness  that  succeeded  the  storm.  No  bluecoats  were 
even  in  sight.  Perhaps  they  had  gone  back  to  the  ford  and 
the  battle  was  over.  The  surgeons  were  looking  after  the 
wounded,  and  the  soldiers  were  telling  of  their  hairbreadth 
escapes  and  boasting  of  victory. 

But  a  sound  of  cannon  was  heard  far  to  the  rear.  The 
reports  ceased  in  number  and  seemed  to  be  getting  nearer. 
Presently  a  courier  on  a  foaming  horse  galloped  up  to  Gen 
eral  Jones  with  orders  from  General  Stuart  to  lead  his  bri 
gade  with  all  speed  to  Fleetwood  Hill,  a  mile  and  more  to 
the  rear  of  the  position  he  then  occupied. 

Fleetwood  Hill  was  the  commanding  position  of  the  field 
contended  for. 

Gregg  with  a  full  division  of  cavalry  and  artillery  in  pro 
portion  had  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  Kelly's  Ford,  and 
having  evaded  Robinson's  command,  was  moving  rapidly 
in  the  rear  of  Stuart's  position  in  the  direction  of  Brandy 
Station,  and  was  in  cannon  shot  of  Fleetwood  Hill,  which 
was  then  occupied  only  by  one  gun  of  Chew's  Battery,  a 
howitzer  commanded  by  Lieut.  John  W.  Carter.  This  gun 
being  only  supplied  with  a  few  rounds  of  damaged  ammuni 
tion,  could  do  no  execution,  but  made  a  brave  show  of 
defending  the  position,  and  the  boldness  of  Carter  created 
the  impression  upon  Gregg  that  he  was  well  supported. 
Hence  he  delayed  to  make  an  immediate  attack  upon  the 
position  with  his  cavalry,  but  opened  a  cannonade  upon  it 
with  three  rifle  guns. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  139 

Moments  were  now  precious,  and  the  best  description  of 
the  situation  is  given  by  Maj.  H.  B.  McClellan,  chief  of 
staff  of  Stuart's  cavalry  corps,  in  his  "Life  and  Campaigns 
of  Stuart,"  page  271,  here  quoted. 

"The  nearest  point  from  which  a  regiment  could  be  sent  was 
Jones'  position,  one  and  a  half  miles  distant  from  Fleetwood. 
The  Twelfth  Virginia,  Col.  A.  W.  Harman,  and  the  Thirty- 
fifth  Battalion,  Lieut. -Col.  E.  V.  White,  were  immediately 
withdrawn  from  his  line  and  ordered  to'  meet  this  new  danger. 
The  emergency  was  so  pressing  that  Colonel  Harman  had  no 
time  to  form  his  regiment  in  squadrons.  He  reached  the  top 
of  the  hill  as  Carter  was  retiring  his  gun,  having  fired  his  very 
last  cartridge. 

"Not  fifty  yards  below  Col.  Percy  Wyndham  was  advancing 
the  First  New  Jersey  Cavalry  in  magnificent  order,  in  column 
of  squadrons,  with  flags  and  guidons  flying. 

"A  hard  gallop  had  enabled  only  the  leading  files  of  the 
Twelfth  Virginia  to  reach  the  top  of  the  hill,  the  rest  of  the 
regiment  stretching  out  behind  in  column  of  fours.  It  was  a 
trying  position  both  to  the  pride  and  the  courage  of  this  regi 
ment,  to  be  put  into  action  in  such  manner,  that  a  successful 
charge  seemed  hopeless.  But  with  the  true  spirit  of  a  forlorn 
hope  Colonel  Harman  and  the  few  men  about  him  dashed  at 
the  advancing  Federals.  *  *  *  And  now  the  first  contest 
for  the  possession  of  Fleetwood  Hill  was  on,  and  so  stubbornly 
was  this  fought  on  either  side,  and  for  so  long  a  time,  that  all 
of  Jones'  regiments  and  all  of  Hampton's  participated  in  the 
charges  and  countercharges  which  swept  across  its  face." 

So  far  McClellan. 

It  was  Company  B  of  the  Twelfth,  Lieut.  Milton  Rouss  in 
command,  and  only  fifteen  to  twenty  men,  who  first  reached 
the  crest  of  the  hill  and  charged  and  received  the  counter 
charge  of  Wyndham  and  the  First  New  Jersey. 


140  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Sergt.  George  Lewis  and  Privates  Upshur  Manning  and 
Warner  McKown  of  Company  B  were  killed  and  four  others 
of  the  company  wounded  in  this  encounter. 

In  referring  to  this  charge,  McClellan  in  a  footnote,  page 
272,  says : 

"The  result  of  this  charge  was  always  a  matter  of  mortifica 
tion  to  this  gallant  regiment  and  its  leader.  It  is  but  just  that 
I  should  say  even  at  this  day,  that  the  whole  responsibility 
rested  with  me  and  not  with  Colonel  Harman.  The  Colonel 
was  not  aware  of  the  extreme  urgency  of  the  case,  and  his  regi 
ment  was  only  advancing  at  a  trot.  Seeing  this  I  rode  down 
the  hill  to  meet  him  and  ordered  the  gallop,  and  put  him  into 
the  fight  in  the  disorderly  manner  narrated.  I  have,  however, 
always  believed  that  the  circumstances  justified  the  sacrifice  of 
this  regiment ;  for  had  Colonel  Wyndham  obtained  undisputed 
possession  of  the  summit,  with  time  to  make  arrangements  for 
holding  it,  the  subsequent  fighting  would  probably  have  had  a 
different  result." 

For  a  moment  only  the  enemy  was  checked,  though  por 
tions  of  the  Twelfth  came  gallantly  to  the  aid  of  their  leader. 
Forced  back  by  the  onward  sweep  of  Wyndham's  squadrons, 
the  head  of  the  Twelfth  was  shattered,  but  fought  in  the 
general  melee  with  the  supports  that  came  up. 

It  was  now  White's  turn.  The  long  gallop  had  dis 
arranged  his  column,  but  he  paused  for  a  moment  to  make 
a  hasty  formation  before  assailing  the  foe.  While  Harman's 
assault  had  failed,  it  had  not  been  fruitless,  for  it  broke  the 
solidity  of  the  Federal  front.  Wyndham  having  his  regi 
ment  in  squadron  formation,  charged  en  masse  to  meet  the 
assault  of  Harman's  unorganized  handful.  The  enemy's 
array  was  no  longer  compact.  His  squadrons  in  the  tumult 
of  battle  were  separated. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  141 

White,  seizing  his  opportunity,  hurled  three  of  his  com 
panies  under  Major  Ferneyhough  against  the  foe  on  his 
right,  and  the  other  two  companies  he  led  against  a  body  of 
troops  on  his  left. 

A  part  of  Hampton's  brigade  now  participated  in  the  con 
test  for  the  possession  of  the  hill,  and  there  was  charging 
and  countercharging,  squadrons  broken  and  again  reformed, 
the  gallant  spirits  on  both  sides  refusing  to  yield. 

White,  having  driven  off  the  troops  on  his  left,  returned 
to  find  the  hill  again  in  possession  of  the  Federals. 

Meantime  Harman,  who  had  not  been  idle  a  moment, 
having  reformed  his  regiment,  united  with  White  in  another 
desperate  effort  to  take  the  hill.  The  bluecoats  were  hard 
to  move,  but  their  steady  valor  yielded  to  the  impetuous  rush 
of  the  Confederates. 

Harman,  charing  under  his  recent  repulse,  raged  like  a 
lion  in  the  combat  that  ensued.  Dashing  at  the  leader  of 
the  Federal  horse,  he  engaged  him  in  a  personal  encounter 
and  was  severely  wounded. 

The  brave  hearts  of  the  Twelfth  and  White's  Battalion 
pressed  forward,  dealing  vigorous  blows,  and  the  enemy, 
yielding  to  the  fierce  assault,  finally  gave  way  and  abandoned 
the  hill. 

During  the  contest  for  the  position  the  Federals  had  been 
greatly  aided  by  a  battery  posted  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  lying 
eastward.  It  became  necessary  now  to  drive  away  or  cap 
ture  this  battery.  White  was  ordered  to  charge  it.  Hastily 
reforming  his  men,  and  reinforced  by  a  company  of  the 
Sixth  Virginia,  he  rode  at  the  guns. 

Across  an  open  plain  for  300  yards,  exposed  to  a  murder 
ous  fire,  the  bold  horsemen  galloped.  The  cavalry  supports 


142  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

of  the  battery  delivered  steady  volleys,  while  the  brave  can 
noneers  poured  grape  and  canister  into  the  ranks  of  their 
assailants.  As  nearer  they  came  the  more  rapid  and  deadly 
were  the  discharges. 

Could  they  live  under  such  a  fire?  The  smoke  partly 
obscured  the  issue,  but  through  the  rifts  were  seen  the  charg 
ing  horsemen  bearing  down  upon  the  foe.  Once  more  the 
cannons  blazed  forth,  and  now,  mid  flame  and  smoke, 
White  and  his  men  were  seen  among  the  guns.  Some  fought 
hand  to  hand  with  the  brave  artillerists,  while  others  dashed 
at  the  cavalry  supports.  These  soon  gave  way  and  broke  in 
full  retreat.  But  the  gunners  wrere  unconquered  and  refused 
to  yield,  using  their  small  arms  against  the  cavalrymen. 

White,  sending  a  portion  of  his  men  after  the  broken 
cavalry  supports,  with  about  twenty  troopers  turned  back 
and  galloped  to  the  guns,  around  which  was  raging  a  hand- 
to-hand  conflict. 

"There  was  no  demand  for  a  surrender  or  offer  to  do  so 
until  nearly  all  the  men,  with  many  of  their  horses,  were 
either  killed  or  wounded."8 

The  capture  of  the  guns  was  not  yet  accomplished,  for 
help  for  the  gallant  artillerists  was  near  at  hand.  Bodies  of 
Federal  horse  bore  down  upon  White  and  almost  surrounded 
him.  The  dearly  won  prize  was  wrenched  from  his  grasp, 
and  he  was  forced  to  cut  his  way  out  through  the  ranks  of 
the  bluecoats  to  avoid  losing  heavily. 

Once  more  the  guns  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Federals, 
but  most  of  those  who  had  manned  them  lay  dead  or  dying 
near  by.  Around  the  now  silent  guns  stood  a  body  of  Fed 
eral  horse.  To  the  right  and  left  the  battle  was  still  raging. 


8White's  Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  143 

General  Jones,  who,  as  we  have  seen,  remained  near  St. 
James'  Church  with  only  the  Eleventh  and  his  artillery,  had 
been  ordered  to  take  part  with  his  troops  in  the  fight  at 
Fleetwood  Hill.  He  reached  the  field  just  as  White  had 
been  driven  away  from  the  guns  of  Captain  Martin's  battery. 

The  Eleventh,  under  Col.  L.  Lomax,9  was  now  ordered  to 
charge.  As  with  well-closed  columns  it  swept  across  the 
ridge,  a  galling  fire  of  small  arms  greeted  it,  for  the  other 
section  of  Captain  Martin's  battery  near  the  Miller  house 
was  still  intact. 

The  fighting  of  Hampton's  regiment  had  almost  by  this 
time  cleared  the  hill  east  of  Stuart's  headquarters,  and  they 
were  still  engaged  when  the  Eleventh  reached  the  scene  of 
strife. 

With  steady  gallop  the  Eleventh  went  forward,  passing 
through  the  guns  that  White  had  been  compelled  to  sur 
render,  taking  them  and  many  of  the  cavalry  prisoners.10 

Now  dividing  his  force,  Lomax  sent  "Capt.  E.  H. 
McDonald  with  a  squadron  after  the  fugitives  east  of  the 
railroad,  while  with  the  remainder  of  his  regiment  he 
assailed  three  regiments  of  cavalry  awaiting  him  near  the 
depot,  which  force  he  completely  routed."1 

The  fighting  around  the  station  and  along  the  railroad 
east  of  it  was  stubborn,  and  it  was  not  until  after  repeated 
charges  of  the  men  of  the  Eleventh  that  the  Federals  gave 
way. 


°Genl.  L.  L.  Lomax,  colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Virginia  Cavalry,  Laurel 
Brigade ;  frequently  by  seniority  in  command  of  the  brigade.  A  dashing 
and  successful  officer,  promoted  to  brigadier-general,  and  later  to 
major-general,  commanding  a  division  of  Cavalry  Corps,  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia. 

10Lomax's  Report. 

11Jones'  Report. 


144  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Gregg  was  now  totally  discomfited  and  withdrew  his 
troops,  going  off,  however,  at  "his  own  gait"  to  make  con 
nection  with  Buford  at  Beverly  Ford. 

Mention  here  should  be  made  of  a  charge  of  the  Sixth 
that  occurred  about  the  same  time  White  was  charging  the 
right  section  of  Captain  Martin's  battery.  The  Sixth, 
under  Major  Flournoy,  joined  Hampton  in  his  attack  upon 
Gregg's  right.  Being  ordered  by  Hampton  to  move  quickly 
in  the  direction  of  Brandy  Station,  while  on  his  way  he 
received  orders  from  General  Stuart  to  cut  off  300  Federals 
who  were  near  the  Miller  house.12 

These  he  soon  routed,  but  was  suddenly  attacked  in  the 
flank  and  forced  to  retire  towards  the  Miller  house.  Here 
a  Federal  battery  was  discovered,  which  opened  furiously 
upon  the  retreating  Confederates. 

The  gallant  Sixth,  now  almost  surrounded,  charged  the 
battery,  rode  up  to  the  muzzles  of  the  guns  and  captured 
them. 

Here  also  the  artillerists  bravely  defended  the  pieces  with 
their  revolvers,  and  speedily  aided  by  a  heavy  force  of 
Federal  cavalry,  drove  off  the  men  of  the  Sixth.13 

The  Eleventh  now  went  towards  Stevensburg  to  guard 
against  another  attack  from  that  direction,  while  the 
Twelfth,  Sixth,  and  Seventh  regiments  were  from  this  time 
on  held  in  reserve,  alternately  supporting  the  artillery  at 
Miller's  house  and  reinforcing  Genl.  W.  F.  Lee  on  our 
extreme  left.14 

When  Jones  and  Hampton  withdrew  their  brigades  to 
meet  Gregg's  attack  at  the  Fleetwood  house  Buford,  who 


12Flournoy's  Report. 
13Flournoy's  Report. 
14Jones'  Report 


GENL.    L.    L.    LOMAX 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  145 

had  marched  from  Beverly  Ford,  had  apparently  nothing 
in  his  front  to  prevent  his  advancing  and  attacking  Jones 
and  Hampton  in  their  rear. 

Just  at  that  time,  fortunately  for  Stuart,  Genl.  W.  F.  Lee 
was  threatening  Buford's  right  flank,  and  thus  prevented  a 
movement  which  might  have  proved  disastrous  to  the  Con 
federate  arms.  Indeed  from  the  time  that  Gregg  made  his 
appearance  beyond  Fleetwood  Hill  and  fired  his  first  cannon 
shots  at  what  he  supposed  was  a  Confederate  force  near 
Stuart's  headquarters,  to  the  time  when  he  was  driven  from 
Fleetwood  Hill,  not  much  over  thirty  minutes  had  elapsed, 
although  Jones  and  Hampton  were  more  than  a  mile  away 
when  the  ominous  roar  of  Gregg's  guns  first  attracted  their 
attention. 

Buford,  therefore,  had  not  much  time  in  which  to  make 
his  arrangements  for  an  advance,  menaced  as  he  was  by 
Genl.  W.  F.  Lee,  and  before  anything  could  be  done  Gregg 
was  beaten  and  retiring  to\vards  the  Rappahannock. 

Stuart  now  formed  a  new  line,  and  in  the  evening  there 
was  heavy  fighting  between  Buford's  and  W.  F.  Lee's 
troops,  Jones'  brigade,  except  a  part  of  the  Seventh,  being 
held  in  reserve. 

In  this  battle  the  Confederates  lost  523  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  while  the  loss  of  the  Federals  was  936.  The 
Confederates  captured  486  prisoners,  three  pieces  of  artil 
lery,  and  six  regimental  and  company  flags.  There  were 
on  the  field  or  near  it,  twenty-one  Confederate  regiments 
opposed  to  thirty-four  Federal  regiments. 

The  fighting  was  mainly  done  by  fifteen  regiments,  five  of 
which  belonged  to  Jones'  brigade. 


146  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Of  the  total  Confederate  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing — 523,  the  loss  in  Jones'  brigade  was  130  killed  and 
wounded,  the  number  missing  not  known. 

Says  General  Jones  in  his  report :  "My  brigade  bore  the 
brunt  of  the  action.  We  ended  the  fight  with  more  horses 
and  more  and  better  small  arms  than  we  had  in  the  begin 
ning.  We  took  two  regimental  colors,  many  guidons,  and 
a  battery  of  three  pieces.  We  took  many  prisoners,  prob 
ably  250,  as  one  regiment,  the  Eleventh,  reports  I22."15 


15For  the  splendid  fighting  done  by  the  commands  of  Hampton,  W.  F. 
Lee,  Fitz  Lee,  and  the  horse  artillery  only  incidentally  mentioned  in 
this  narrative,  the  reader  is  refered  to  "The  Campaigns  of  Stuart's 
Cavalry,"  by  Maj.  H.  B.  McClellan.  While  credit  is  also  given  to  the 
Federals  for  the  gallant  charges  of  their  cavalry  and  the  stubborn 
bravery  of  their  artillerists. 


CHAPTER  V 

June,    1863 

A  short  rest — The  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  moves  northward — 
Jones'  brigade  guards  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock — Federal  cav 
alry  in  search  of  Lee  make  for  the  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge — Aldie 
and  Middleburg — Fight  at  Upperville — Stuart  makes  famous  raid  in 
rear  of  Federal  Army — Jones'  and  Robertson's  brigades  left  to 
defend  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge — Operations  of  White's  Battalion 
— In  Maryland — Sixth  Virginia  meets  Sixth  United  States  Regu 
lars  near  Fairfield  and  defeats  the  latter — Joy  of  victory  turned  to 
sadness  by  news  of  Lee's  failure  at  Cemetery  Ridge — Jones  and 
Robertson  hold  the  passes  of  Jack  Mountain — Jones  saves  Ewell's 
wagon  train — Buford  and  Kilpatrick  thwarted — Fighting  between 
Hagerstown  and  Williamsport — Gallant  charge  of  the  Eleventh 
Virginia  Cavalry  —  Funkstown  and  Boonesboro  —  Willamsport 
relieved  and  Lee's  wagon  train  saved — The  Seventh  Virginia  retali 
ates  upon  Sixth  Regulars — Artillery  practice  upon  a  flying  target 
— Lee  recrosses  the  Potomac — The  brigade  ordered  south  of  the 
Potomac  to  cover  Lee's  communications  with  Winchester — The 
Twelfth,  under  Colonel  Harman,  on  detached  service  near  Har 
per's  Ferry — Capture  of  Federal  picket  reserves — Colonel  Harman 
falls  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy — Brigade  encamps  near  Charles 
Town  and  engages  in  reconnoitering  and  skirmishes — Lee  retires 
up  the  Valley  and  crossing  the  mountains  resumes  the  line  of  the 
Rappahannock. 

A  short  but  well-earned  rest  was  enjoyed  by  Jones'  men 
after  the  battle  of  Brandy  Station. 

The  movement  of  Lee's  infantry  northward  soon  necessi 
tated  great  activity  on  the  part  of  the  cavalry. 

Ewell  was  already  engaged  in  the  successful  movement 
that  ended  in  the  capture  of  Milroy  at  Winchester.  Long- 
street  followed,  crossing  the  Blue  Ridge  through  Ashby's 
and  Snickers  Gaps. 


148  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

A.  P.  Hill's  corps  brought  up  the  rear,  and  while  it  was 
passing  northward,  Hampton's  and  Jones'  brigades  guarded 
the  line  of  the  Rappahannock. 

On  the  i /th  of  June  Fitz  Lee's  brigade,  under  Col.  T.  T. 
Munford,  was  attacked  near  Aldie  by  General  Gregg's 
division  of  cavalry. 

After  a  most  gallant  resistance  Munford,  in  obedience  to 
orders  from  Stuart,  retired  towards  Middleburg.  The 
enemy  had  been  so  severely  punished  that  he  did  not  follow.1 

Aldie  is  in  a  gap  in  the  Bull  Run  Mountains,  and  is 
directly  east  of  Ashby's  Gap  in  the  Blue  Ridge.  A  turnpike 
connects  the  two  points,  passing  through  Upperville  and 
Middleburg.  The  next  mountain  pass  in  the  Blue  Ridge 
north  of  Ashby's  is  Snickers  Gap,  from  which  also  a  road 
runs  to  Aldie,  making  with  the  turnpike  from  Ashby's 
nearly  an  isosceles  triangle,  having  the  twelve  miles  of  the 
Blue  Ridge  between  the  gaps  mentioned  for  its  base.  The 
space  between  is  a  rich  and  well-cultivated  section  of  the 
beautiful  Piedmont  country  of  Virginia,  with  county  roads 
intersecting  it.  It  is  well  watered  by  the  mountain  streams 
which,  with  the  rolling  and  sometimes  broken  plains  and 
numerous  stone  fences,  render  it  ill  adapted  for  cavalry 
movements. 

After  the  retirement  of  Col.  T.  T.  Munford  from  Aldie 
Stuart,  with  his  headquarters  on  the  road  from  Middleburg 
to  Aldie,  stationed  his  cavalry  at  different  points  to  com 
mand  the  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 

He  was  threatened  by  a  large  cavalry  force  under  General 
Pleasonton,  supported  by  General  Barnes'  division  of 
infantry  of  three  brigades. 


1Munford's  Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  149 

On  the  1 9th  of  June  General  Gregg  moved  out  from  Aldie 
and  attacked  Stuart,  strongly  posted  a  few  miles  west  of 
Middleburg  on  the  Upperville  turnpike.  After  a  stubborn 
fight  Stuart  fell  back  about  half  a  mile  and  took  a  new  posi 
tion,  from  which  the  Federals  did  not  attempt  to  drive  him 
that  day.  In  the  evening  Jones'  brigade  arrived  and  Avas 
posted  on  the  road  to  Union,  covering  that  place,  which  is 
north  of  the  turnpike  and  about  five  miles  from  Upperville. 

The  next  day  Jones  was  reinforced  by  General  Cham-bliss* 
brigade.  On  the  morning  of  the  2ist  Gregg,  now  reinforced 
by  Buford's  division  of  cavalry  and  one  brigade  of  infantry, 
1,500  strong,  advanced  on  the  Union  and  Middleburg  roads, 
Buford  attacking  Jones  and  Chambliss 

Gregg's  movement,  it  seems,  was  a  mere  feint  to  divert 
Stuart  until  Buford  could  brush  away  Jones  and  Chambliss 
and  assail  the  Confederate  left  flank. 

Jones  and  Chambliss,  however,  proved  no  small  obstacle, 
and  Buford,  despite  his  superior  numbers,  made  slow 
progress.  There  was  sharp  fighting  along  the  whole  cavalry 
front,  Gregg  no  longer  making  a  feint,  but  pushing  forward 
and  dealing  vigorous  blows. 

Stuart,  feeling  unable  to  cope  with  a  foe  so  greatly 
superior  in  numbers,  fell  back  slowly  before  Gregg,  and 
ordered  Jones  and  Chambliss  to  abandon  the  Union  Road 
and  retire  gradually  towards. Upperville. 

Their  contemplated  line  of  retreat  was  seriously  inter 
fered  with  by  Buford,  who,  pressing  forward  and  inclining 
towards  Stuart's  left  flank,  forced  Jones  and  Chambliss  to 
deviate  towards  the  mountain. 

The  artillery  of  both  brigades  was  put  in  the  road  and  the 
cavalry  on  the  flanks,  Chambliss  to  the  left  and  Jones  to 


150  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

the  right.  In  front  bearing  towards  Upperville  was  a  hill 
which  they  aimed  to  reach  and  thence  give  battle  to  the 
enemy.  In  this  they  were  anticipated  by  Buford,  who,  being 
on  the  inside  of  the  circle  around  the  circumference  of  which 
the  Confederates  were  marching,  reached  the  hill  first  and 
blocked  their  way.  Although  the  enemy  was  strongly 
posted  with  a  stone  fence  in  front,  the  Confederates  immedi 
ately  assaulted  the  position. 

From  behind  a  stone  fence  the  Federal  dismounted 
squadrons  with  their  carbines  delivered  successive  volleys, 
to  which  the  Confederates  with  their  pistols  made  but  an 
ineffective  response. 

Another  stone  fence  along  the  road  prevented  Jones' 
artillery  from;  getting  immediately  into  position.  However, 
a  part  of  this  fence  was  soon  pulled  down  and  Captain 
Chew,  quickly  placing  his  guns  into  position,  opened  a  gal 
ling  fire  on  the  foe  at  close  range.  His  well-aimed  shots, 
crashing  into  the  heads  of  the  Federal  regiments,  provoked 
a  charge  upon  his  battery.  On  came  the  bluecoats  in  fine 
style,  massed  in  column  and  flanked  with  battle  lines  of 
carbineers,  who  showered  bullets  among  the  gunners  and  into 
the  ranks  of  their  supporting  squadrons.  The  leaden  hail 
fell  thick  and  fast,  rattling  on  the  smoking  pieces  and 
wounding  some  of  the  artillerists. 

Says  Colonel  Chew,  referring  to  the  part  performed  by 
his  battery  in  this  engagement :  "When  we  reached  the  hill 
opposite  the  position  of  the  enemy  a  squadron  of  our  cavalry, 
I  think  under  Captain  Hatcher,  had  let  down  the  fence  and 
charged  in  the  direction  of  Upperville.  Our  cavalry  was 
forming  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  in  considerable  con 
fusion.  We  put  the  guns  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  but 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  151 

finding  this  position  would  not  be  supported,  I  had  a  gap  let 
down  in  the  fence  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  and  put  my 
guns  into  position  so  as  to  command  the  gap  and  the  fields 
in  front. 

"The  enemy  frequently  charged  up  to  the  stone  fence, 
but  it  was  easy  to  make  the  gap  so  hot  with  canister  that 
they  would  not  venture  across.  Our  cavalry  had  formed  in 
the  field  behind  us,  and  after  remaining  there  for  some  time 
commenced  to  move  off  towards  the  Upperville  turnpike. 
The  guns  were  served  with  deadly  effect,  and  kept  the  enemy 
completely  in  check  until  we  had  an  opportunity  to  retire." 

The  effect  of  Chew's  guns  was  apparent.  Not  less  than 
forty-five  horses  by  actual  count  had  been  shot  down  in  one 
place,  at  the  opening  in  the  fence  referred  to.  The  number 
of  killed  and  wounded  Federals  is  not  known,  but  if  in  pro 
portion  to  the  number  of  horses  the  loss  must  have  been 
heavy.  The  cavalry  made  several  ineffectual  attempts  to 
protect  the  battery,  which  all  the  time  seemed  in  imminent 
peril,  and  which  retired  from  the  field  under  the  protection 
of  its  own  discharges. 

Never  was  the  brigade  taken  at  greater  disadvantage  than 
in  this  engagement.  Buford  had  arrived  first  at  a  point 
intersecting  Jones'  line  of  march,  and  assailed  him  on  the 
left  of  his  marching  column  in  a  road  parallel  with  the 
eastern  foothills  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  The  road,  as  already 
stated,  was  between  stone  fences,  which  made  it  impossible 
for  Jones  to  get  his  regiments  into  any  sort  of  formation, 
and  the  stone  fences  beyond  in  the  fields  occupied  by  the 
enemy  furnished  protection  for  his  sharpshooters,  who  fired 
with  deadly  effect  into  the  almost  helpless  Confederate 
masses. 


152  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  Twelfth,  under  Colonel  Massie,  was  ordered  to  pass 
through  a  gap  in  the  fence  and  check  the  advance  of  the 
enemy,  but  such  a  heavy  fire  was  concentrated  upon  the 
opening  that  the  head  of  the  regiment  was  shattered  and 
thrown  into  confusion.  Captain  O'Ferrall,  commanding 
Company  I  of  the  Twelfth,  was  here  desperately  wounded.2 
Several  were  killed  here  and  quite  a  number  wounded. 

At  this  juncture  the  Eleventh,  under  Colonel  Funsten, 
was  ordered  to  charge,  and  a  portion  of  the  Seventh,  led 
by  Colonel  Marshall,  charged  up  to  the  stone  fence  to  the 
left  of  Chew's  Battery.  This  combined  attack  in  a  measure 
retarded  the  Federal  advance,  but  it  was  the  well-served 
artillery  that  repulsed  the  enemy. 

Chambliss  and  Jones  now  together  advanced  upon  the 
retiring  foe  and  made  connection  with  Stuart's  forces,  then 
falling  back  towards  Ashby's  Gap. 

In  reference  to  this  engagement  General  Buford  says  in 
his  report :  "The  enemy  brought  four  twelve-pounder  guns 
into  position,  and  made  some  excellent  practice  on  the  head 
of  my  regiments  as  they  came  up.  The  gunners  were  driven 
from  their  guns,  which  would  have  fallen  into  our  hands  but 
for  two  impassable  stone  fences.  The  enemy  then  came  up 
in  magnificent  style  from  the  direction  of  Snickersville,  and 
for  a  time  threatened  me  with  overwhelming  numbers." 

In  this  fight  Jones,  who  had  three  regiments  on  the  field, 
White's  being  on  detached  service,  lost  in  the  Seventh,  five 
killed  and  sixteen  wounded;  in  the  Twelfth,  two  killed  and 
eleven  wounded;  in  the  Eleventh,  seven  killed  and  twenty- 
four  wounded. 


2Capt.  O'Ferrall  survived  the  war,  was  elected  to  Congress  and  later 
Became  Governor  of  Virginia. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  153 

The  next  day  the  Federals  withdrew  from  Upperville,  and 
Stuart's  headquarters  were  re-established  at  Rectortown. 

On  the  24th  Stuart,  taking  with  him  all  of  his  cavalry 
except  Robertson's  and  Jones'  brigades,  started  on  his  raid 
in  the  rear  of  the  Federal  Army.  Jones  and  Robertson 
"were  left  in  observation  of  the  enemy  on  the  usual  front, 
with  full  instructions  as  to  the  following  up  the  enemy  in 
case  of  withdrawal,  and  joining  our  main  army."3 

The  reason  assigned  by  Major  McClellan  in  his  "Cam 
paigns  of  Stuart's  Cavalry"  for  Stuart's  leaving  Jones' 
brigade  behind,  is  that  it  was  the  largest  in  the  division,  and 
because  Stuart  regarded  Jones  as  "the  best  outpost  officer" 
in  his  command. 

On  the  29th  of  June  Jones'  brigade  left  Snickersville  and 
united  with  that  of  General  Robertson  at  Berryville.  The 
Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry  had  already  been  sent  on  picket 
duty  near  Harper's  Ferry. 

June  the  3Oth  a  part  of  this  regiment,  under  Lieutenants 
Lewis  Harman  and  George  Baylor,  surprised  and  captured  a 
Federal  cavalry  picket  reserve  in  Bolivar,  killing  one  and 
capturing  twenty-one  prisoners,  among  whom  were  two 
officers. 

White's  Battalion,  which  had  been  detached  a  few  days 
after  the  fight  at  Brandy  Station,  accompanied  Ewell's 
column  against  Winchester.  When  about  to  cross  the  Blue 
Ridge,  Ewell  permitted  White  to  make  a  raid  on  Point  of 
Rocks.  When  near  the  place  White  sent  Company  B,  under 
Lieutenant  Crown,  to  the  north  side  of  the  town  to  cut  off 
the  retreat  of  the  Federals.  Here  Lieutenant  Crown  came 


3Stuart's  Report. 


154  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

up  with  Cole's  Battalion  and  routed  it,  capturing  thirty- 
seven  prisoners. 

In  the  meantime  White  had  routed  Means'  command  in 
the  town  and  captured  about  twenty  prisoners,  and  when 
Crown  returned  was  engaged  in  setting  fire  to  two  railroad 
trains  that  had  just  arrived. 

After  gathering  up  the  spoils  of  war,  White  with  his  bat 
talion  returned  to  Loudon  and  there  remained  until  ordered 
to  join  Ewell  in  Maryland. 

About  the  3Oth  of  Juhe.  Jones'  brigade,  in  company  with 
Robertson's,  set  out  for  Maryland.  The  Twelfth  Regiment 
was  left  near  Charles  Town  to  picket  towards  Harper's 
Ferry. 

The  Sixth,  Seventh  and  Eleventh  regiments  crossed  the 
Potomiac  at  Williamsport  and,  going  by  way  of  Chambers- 
burg,  reached  Cashtown  July  3rd. 

Towards  evening  General  Jones,  by  order  of  General  Lee, 
moved  his  command  towards  Fairfield  to  take  position  in  the 
rear  of  Lee's  line  of  battle.  About  two  miles  from  Fairfield 
the  Sixth  United  States  Cavalry  was  met  enroute  to  capture 
the  cavalry  division  wragon  train  which,  but  for  the  timely 
arrival  of  Jones,  wrould  have  fallen  into  their  hands. 

The  two  columns  met  face  to  face  in  a  lane  having  on  both 
sides  a  stout  post  and  rail  fence.  The  country  was  open  but 
cut  up  into  small  fields  fenced  in  a  similar  manner.  Neither 
party  could  form  any  estimate  of  the  force  opposed  to  it,  and 
circumstances  forced  immediate  action.  Major  Stair,  in 
command  of  the  Federals,  upon  discovering  the  Confed 
erates,  deployed  mounted  men  on  his  flank,  who  with  their 
carbines  could  pour  a  destructive  fire  into  a  columin  advanc 
ing  down  the  lane. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  155 

The  Seventh  Regiment  being  in  front,  General  Jones  at 
once  ordered  Lieut. -Col.  Thomas  Marshall  to  charge  the 
enemy.  The  command  was  quickly  obeyed,  and  with  its 
usual  dash  the  Seventh  moved  towards  the  foe.  But  the 
head  of  the  column  soon  encountered  a  terrible  fire  from  the 
flanking  squadrons,  those  on  the  right  partly  concealed  and 
covered  by  an  orchard. 

Shattered  and  broken  the  head  of  the  charging  column 
faltered,  the  men  behind  it  halted,  and  soon  the  whole  regi 
ment  returned  in  spite  of  the  strenuous  efforts  of  some  of  the 
officers  to  force  it  forward. 

The  failure  of  the  Seventh,  General  Jones'  old  and 
favorite  regiment,  was  clearly  due  to  the  fire  from  the 
mounted  men  on  the  flanks,  who,  being  unmolested,  shot 
with  deadly  effect  into  the  charging  column. 

General  Jones  was  greatly  disappointed  and  mortified. 
Riding  up  to  the  Sixth  Virginia,  who  were  in  the  rear  over 
a  rising  ground  out  of  sight  of  the  repulse  of  the  Seventh, 

he  said,  "Shall  one  regiment  of  Yankees  whip  my 

whole  brigade?" 

"Let  us  try  them !"  cried  the  men  of  the  Sixth. 

The  order  was  at  once  given  to  charge.  Forming  rapidly 
and  with  eagerness  to  be  in  front,  the  Sixth  moved  off  with 
a  steady  gallop,  with  the  gallant  Colonel  Flournoy  at  the 
head  of  the  column.  Some  of  the  Seventh  moved  abreast 
of  the  column  in  the  field,  and  to  some  extent  disturbed  the 
mounted  bluecoats  on  the  flanks4 

With  drawn  sabres  the  grey  troopers  bore  down  upon  the 
foe,  now  flushed  with  victory  and  waiting  with  confidence 
the  onset. 


'Colonel  Marshall's  Report. 


156  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  Clarke  Cavalry,  under  Captain  Richards,  was  in 
front,  and  many  of  the  Seventh,  smarting  under  their  recent 
defeat,  joined  in  the  charge. 

Again  the  fire  from  the  mounted  men  on  the  flanks  told 
with  deadly  effect  upon  the  ranks  of  the  assailants.  Under 
it  Adjutant  Allen  and  others  fell  at  the  head  of  the  charging 
force.  But  the  Sixth  never  slackened  pace,  and  its  steady 
advance  soon  caused  dismay  among  the  Federals. 

The  leading  files  of  blue  began  to  hesitate  and  half  turn. 
Officers  were  seen  pressing  through  the  column  to  the  front, 
making  efforts  to  keep  the  men  steady. 

Major  Stair,  commanding  the  Sixth  United  States  Reg 
ulars,  bravely  struggled  to  stem  the  tide,  as  his  troops, 
shrinking  from  the  rush  of  the  Confederates,  turned  to  flee. 
For  a  moment  there  was  some  resistance,  as  the  head  of 
the  grey  column  plunged  into  that  of  the  blue. 

The  gallant  Major  Stair  fell  desperately  wounded,  with 
his  skull  crushed  by  a  sabre  cut  from  Lieutenant  Duncan. 
Capt.  G.  C.  Gram,  second  in  command,  was  also  wounded 
and  captured. 

The  Federals  now  broke  into  a  wild  rout,  the  men  of  the 
Sixth  riding  among  them  and  slaying  or  capturing  at  will. 

For  a  mile  the  pursuit  was  kept  up,  until  the  village  of 
Fairfield  was  reached. 

In  this  fight  the  Sixth  United  States  Regulars  seemed 
almost  annihilated.  Their  total  loss  was  242 ;  six  men  killed, 
five  officers  and  twenty-three  men  wounded,  and  five  officers 
and  203  men  captured  or  missing. 

The  Seventh  Virginia  lost  three  killed  and  twenty-one 
wounded.  The  Sixth  Virginia  lost  three  killed  and  seven 
teen  wounded. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  157 

During  the  fight  at  Fairfield  Lee  was  engaged  in  an 
attempt  to  take  Cemetery  Hill.  The  roar  of  the  artillery 
supporting  Pickett  in  his  desperate  charge  was  still  reverber 
ating  as  the  Confederates  galloped  down  the  lane  towards 
Fairfield. 

After  the  battle  in  the  evening  twilight,  as  the  men  talked 
over  their  success,  the  joy  of  victory  was  dashed  with  sad 
ness,  when  it  was  learned  that  Lee  had  failed  to  take  Cem 
etery  Hill.  There  were  whisperings  of  retreat  during  the 
night.  Next  day,  the  4th  of  July,  Lee's  whole  army  began 
its  march  back  to  the  Potomac.  Jones'  brigade  and  Robert 
son's  were  ordered  to  hold  the  passes  of  Jack  Mountain  and 
keep  back  Federal  raiders  from  the  wagon  train. 

In  the  evening  it  was  reported  that  the  enemy  was 
advancing  in  force  on  the  Emmitsburg  and  Waynesboro 
roads. 

General  Jones,  fearing  that  Ewell's  train,  then  on  its  way 
to  Williamsport,  would  be  attacked,  asked  leave  to  go  with 
his  command  to  protect  it.  He  was  allowed  the  Sixth  and 
Seventh  regiments,  and  Chew's  battery,  but  the  Seventh  was 
afterwards  ordered  back  and  the  Fourth  North  Carolina, 
under  Colonel  Fernbee,  took  its  place. 

It  rained  incessantly  all  night;  the  road  was  soon  badly 
cut  up;  the  ruts  got  deeper  and  deeper.  At  many  points 
where  mountain  streams  crossed  the  road  the  weaker  teams 
would  stall  and  block  the  way.  Through  the  mud  and 
darkness  the  artillery  floundered  along.  Wagons  with 
broken  axles  abandoned  by  their  drivers  had  to  be  passed, 
and  sometimes  broken-down  ambulances  filled  with  wounded 
were  encountered. 


158  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

It  being  wholly  impracticable  to  push  ahead  the  artillery, 
or  even  the  cavalry,  General  Jones  went  forward  with  his 
staff. 

Arriving  at  the  junction  of  the  Emmitsburg  road  with 
the  one  upon  which  the  train  was  moving  towards  Williams- 
port,  he  found  there  Capt.  G.  M.  Emack's  Company  of 
Maryland,  with  one  gun,  opposed  to  a  whole  division  of 
Federal  cavalry  with  a  full  battery. 

"He  had  already  been  driven  back  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  the  junction  of  the  roads.  Not  half  of  the  long  train 
had  passed. 

"This  little  band  of  heroes  was  encouraged  with  the  hope  of 
speedy  reinforcements,  reminded  of  the  importance  of  their 
trust,  and  exhorted  to  fight  to  the  bitter  end  rather  than  yield. 
All  my  couriers  and  all  others  with  firearms  were  ordered  to 
the  front,  directed  to  lie  on  the  ground,  and  be  sparing  with 
ammunition.  The  last  charge  of  grape  was  expended  and  the 
piece  sent  to  the  rear. 

"For  more  than  two  hours  less  than  fifty  men  kept  many 
thousands  in  check,  and  the  wagons  continued  to  pass  along 
while  the  balls  were  whistling  in  their  midst."5 

At  last  the  Federals  with  a  cavalry  charge  swept  away 
resistance  and  got  possession  of  the  road. 

General  Jones  in  the  darkness  was  separated  from  all  his 
command  and  made  his  way  through  the  woods  to  Williams- 
port.  Here  he  found  everything  in  confusion,  and  began  to 
reorganize  the  stragglers  for  the  defense  of  Lee's  army 
train. 

The  enemy  was  momentarily  expected.  But  soon  a  force 
of  Confederate  cavalry  and  infantry  arrived  and  General 
Imboden  took  command. 


5Jones'   Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  159 

General  Jones  now  made  his  way  back  through  the 
enemy's  lines  to  his  brigade  on  the  night  of  the  5th.  In 
the  morning  he  rejoined  his  brigade  at  Leitersburg,  and 
returned  with  it  by  way  of  Smithtown  and  Cavetown  and 
the  old  Frederick  Road,  so  as  to  participate  in  the  attacks 
on  General  Kilpatrick  at  Hagerstown. 

General  Kilpatrick,  who  had  pushed  Jones  and  Emack 
aside  at  Monterey  Gap,  captured  over  300  prisoners  and 
forty  wagons. 

On  the  6th  he  withdrew  to  Boonesboro.  Here  it  was 
arranged  between  Kilpatrick  and  Buford  that  the  latter 
should  attack  Lee's  trains  at  Williamsport,  while  Kilpatrick 
kept  Stuart  back  in  the  direction  of  Llagerstown. 

Stuart,  divining  their  intentions,  attacked  the  Federals  at 
Hagerstown,  and  after  a  stubborn  resistance  drove  them 
before  him. 

But  according  to  the  plan  prearranged,  Kilpatrick  retired 
towards  Williamsport  with  his  artillery,  having  a  heavy 
line  of  skirmishers  on  both  sides  of  the  road.  The  fields 
adjoining  wrere  crossed  frequently  by  post  and  rail  fences 
and  afforded  shelter  for  the  skirmishers. 

Already  the  sound  of  cannon  \vas  heard  in  the  direction 
of  Williamsport,  and  it  was  evident  that  unless  aid  was 
furnished  quickly  the  trains  at  Williamsport  would  fall  into 
Federal  hands. 

Stuart  at  once  determined  to  press  the  enemy.  Cham- 
bliss'  brigade  of  North  Carolinians  charged,  "the  Ninth 
and  Thirteenth  Virginia  participating  with  marked  gal 
lantry.  Robertson's  two  regiments  and  Jenkins'  brigade 
kept  to  the  left  of  the  road,  moving  in  a  parallel  direction 
with  Chambliss. 


160  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

"The  column  on  the  flank  was  now  hurried  up  to  attack 
the  enemy  in  the  flank,  but  the  obstacles,  such  as  post  and 
rail  fences,  delayed  its  progress  so  long  that  the  enemy  had 
time  to  rally  along  a  crest  of  rocks  and  fences,  from  which 
he  opened  with  artillery,  raking  the  road."6 

Jenkins'  brigade  was  ordered  to  advance,  dismounted,  and 
dislodge  the  enemy.  Over  the  broken  and  difficult  ground 
Jenkins'  men  moved  forward,  driving  the  foe.  Mounted 
cavalry  pressed  the  retreating  ranks  of  blue,  but  Kilpatrick 
brought  up  fresh  squadrons  and  hurled  them  upon  the  lines 
of  the  Confederates.  Their  onset  was  met  by  a  counter 
charge  conducted  by  Col.  James  B.  Gordon,  commanding  a 
fragment  of  the  Fifth  North  Carolina  Cavalry.  Before  his 
impetuous  rush  the  blue  lines  fell  back  in  some  disorder. 

The  Eleventh  Virginia,  under  Colonel  Lomax,  was  now 
ordered  to  charge,  for  a  simple  repulse  was  not  sufficient. 

The  guns  of  Buford,  assailing  General  Imboden,  who  was 
defending  Lee's  trains  at  Williamsport,  admonished 
Stuart  that  partial  success  would  mean  defeat,  and  that 
nothing  but  a  victory  that  swept  Kilpatrick  from  his  path 
would  save  the  trains  at  Williamsport.  Kilpatrick,  knowing 
this,  aimed  above  all  to  gain  time  and  had  cunningly  placed 
his  guns  and  squadrons  so  as  to  retard  the  advance  of  the 
Confederates. 

When  the  Eleventh  was  ordered  to  charge,  two  regiments 
of  Federals  were  drawn  up  in  line  across  the  turnpike  and 
the  field  to  the  left,  their  artillery  on  the  brow  of  the  hill 
raking  the  turnpike;  their  right  protected  by  a  stone  wall 
with  only  one  gap  in  it  by  which  to  enter  the  field. 


6Stuart's  Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  161 

The  Eleventh  was  moved  parallel  with  the  turnpike  until 
within  about  500  yards  of  the  enemy's  position,  when  it 
turned  into  the  turnpike  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's 
battery. 

It  then  moved  slowly  until  within  200  yards  of  the  enemy, 
when  the  command  to  charge  was  given.7 

Right  down  the  straight  turnpike,  swept  by  the  Federal 
guns,  with  drawn  sabres  rode  the  Eleventh  under  the  gallant 
leadership  of  Colonel  Lomax. 

Bullets  from  the  blue  line  in  front ;  bombs,  grape  and 
canister  from  the  Federal  battery  tore  through  their  ranks. 
No  line  of  sharpshooters,  no  supporting  squadrons  with 
their  volleys  disturbed  the  Federal  gunners.  They  shot  with 
deliberation  and  with  telling  effect. 

Under  the  terrible  fire  men  and  horses  fell  headlong. 
Hands  that  grasped  the  flashing  steel  relaxed  their  hold,  and 
brave  hearts  that  erstwhile  swelled  with  expectation  of  vic 
tory,  felt  the  bitterness  of  death.  Each  step  forward  multi 
plied  the  danger,  as  with  increased  rapidity  the  flaming  guns 
sent  forth  their  missiles  of  destruction.  But  nothing  could 
stop  the  impetuous  rush  of  the  grey  troopers,  as  with  lifted 
sabres  and  battle  shouts  they  plunged  through  the  smoke 
towards  the  foe. 

The  blue  masses  in  the  turnpike  did  not  abide  the  onset, 
but  turned  and  fled,  leaving  many  prisoners  in  the  hands  of 
the  Confederates. 

Colonel  Lomax,  discovering  two  squadrons  in  the  field 
still  in  line  and  moving  towards  the  stone  fence,  which 
would  afford  them,  good  protection  from  a  charge  and  from 
the  fire  of  his  men,  reformed  his  regiment  and  moved  back 


rLomax's  Report. 


1 62  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

on  the  turnpike  to  the  gap.  Here  again,  as  at  Upperville, 
the  enemy  concentrated  his  fire  upon  the  gap,  while  many 
of  the  Federals,  to  save  their  artillery,  bravely  rushed  to  the 
breach  as  the  Eleventh  poured  through.  Near  the  opening 
the  fight  waxed  hot  and  bloody,  but  once  in  the  field  the 
Confederates  pressed  forward,  driving  the  enemy  before 
them. 

The  Federals  now  hastily  retreated,  going  by  the  Downs- 
ville  Road.  The  siege  of  Williamsport  was  raised  and  Lee's 
trains  were  saved. 

In  this  fight  the  Eleventh  captured  100  prisoners  and  fifty 
horses,  killing  and  wounding  many  of  the  enemy. 

The  next  day  the  Seventh  had  an  opportunity  to  repay 
the  Sixth  United  States  Regulars  for  what  it  had  suffered 
at  their  hands  at  Fairfield,  and  the  debt  was  paid  with 
interest. 

On  the  road  leading  to  Funkstown  the  two  regiments  met, 
Lieutenant  Marshall  in  command  of  the  Seventh.  As  before, 
the  Seventh  wras  the  first  to  make  the  attack,  and  this  was 
done- with  so  much  energy  that  the  regulars  broke  and  fled, 
pursued  for  nearly  five  miles  by  the  Seventh. 

Says  Colonel  Marshall :  "Our  column  pressed  upon  them 
with  great  rapidity,  killing  and  wounding  a  number  and 
taking  some  sixty  prisoners." 

The  sweets  of  victory  were  not  unalloyed.  In  the  pursuit 
the  thirst  for  vengeance  carried  the  head  of  the  column  too 
far.  The  regiment  \vas  stretched  for  some  distance  along 
the  road  and  in  disorder. 

The  Federals  at  last  rallied,  and  seeing  the  small  num 
bers  of  their  pursuers,  turned  upon  them;  and  now  the 
Seventh,  after  repeated  efforts  to  rally,  retired  hastily,  losing 
nine  prisoners  and  having  two  men  wounded. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  163 

Lieut.  Nicholas  Nolan,  who  commanded  the  regulars  in 
this  fight,  admits  a  loss  of  fifty-nine  killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  of  whom  ten  were  killed. 

Near  Boonesboro  Stuart  made  a  bold  demonstration  of 
his  cavalry,  threatening  an  advance  upon  the  enemy,  in 
order  to  cover  Lee's  retrograde  movement.  Jones'  brigade 
being  in  front,  encountered  the  enemy  on  the  Boonesboro 
Road  at  Beaver  Creek  bridge,  and  pressed  them  back  to  the 
verge  of  the  village.8  In  this  contest,  the  fighting  being 
mainly  on  foot,  Fitz  Lee's  and  Hampton's  brigades  partici 
pated  in  a  very  handsome  manner. 

The  Federals  were  forced  back  from  the  village  to  the 
mountain  pass,  from  which  point,  with  artillery  posted  on 
the  heights,  they  prevented  Stuart  from  entering  the  town. 

There  was  now  a  spirited  and  deafening  combat  between 
the  artillery  of  the  opposing  commands,  on  ridges  facing 
one  another,  while  in  the  valley  between  skirmish  lines  of 
dismounted  men  fought  with  their  long-range  guns. 

Having  accomplished  his  object  of  putting  the  enemy 
upon  the  defensive,  towards  evening  Stuart  withdrew.  "The 
enemy  observing  this  from  his  mountain  perch,  tried  to 
profit  by  it  with  a  vigorous  movement  on  our  heels,  but  was 
foiled.  As  the  last  regiment  was  passing  the  bridge  over 
Beaver  Creek,  a  squadron  of  the  enemy  more  bold  than  the 
others  galloped  forward  as  if  to  charge.  Steadily  a  portion 
of  the  First  North  Carolina  Cavalry  awaited  their  arrival 
within  striking  distance,  but  before  reaching  their  vicinity 
the  enemy  veered  off  across  the  fields. 

"Here  a  Blakely  gun  of  Chew's  Battery  advantageously 
posted  marked  their  movement,  and  although  the  squadron 


8Stuart's  Report. 


164  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

moved  at  a  gallop,  never  did  sportsman  bring  down  flying 
birds  with  more  unerring  aim  than  the  aim  of  the  Blakely 
firing  upon  that  moving  squadron.  In  vain  did  it  turn  to 
the  right  and  to  the  left.  Each  shot  seemed  drawn  to  the 
flying  target  with  fatal  accuracy  until  the  enemy,  driven 
by  the  shots  of  the  Blakely  and  followed  by  the  derisive 
shouts  of  our  cavalry,  escaped  at  full  speed  over  the  plain."9 

Stuart  new  fell  back  slowly,  his  men  encamping  the  night 
of  the  8th  near  Funkstown.  On  the  loth  and  nth  Jones 
retired  by  the  Cavetown  Road.  On  the  I3th  Stuart  with 
drew  all  his  cavalry  from:  Lee's  front  and  massed  it  on  the 
left  of  the  main  body  of  the  army,  in  expectation  of  a  gen 
eral  advance  of  the  Federal  force.  During  this  movement 
the  Eleventh  Virginia,  under  Colonel  Lomax,  while  retiring 
through  Hagerstown  was  charged  by  the  enemy's  cavalry 
from  two  streets.  These  assaults  were  quickly  repulsed  by 
the  sharpshooters  of  the  regiment,  having  suffered  a  loss  of 
three  wounded  in  the  skirmish. 

On  the  1 3th  of  July  Jones'  brigade  was  sent  across  the 
Potomac  to  cover  Lee's  communications  with  Winchester. 

It  now  appearing  that  the  enemy,  instead  of  attacking, 
was  entrenching  himself  in  our  front,  General  Lee  deter 
mined  to  cross  the  Potomac. 

Accordingly,  during  the  night  of  the  I3th  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia  returned  to  the  south  side  of  the  river. 
Stuart's  cavalry,  with  the  exception  of  Jones'  brigade,  stayed 
in  the  infantry  trenches  during  the  night,  and  crossed 
the  next  morning. 

When  General  Jones  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade  was  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  Twelfth  Regiment,  under  Col.  A.  W. 


9Stuart's  Report. 


COL.  ASHER  W.   HARMAN 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  165 

Harman,  remained  in  the  neighborhood  of  Harper's  Ferry, 
operating  against  the  enemy  as  occasion  offered. 

During  the  night  of  the  3Oth  Lieutenants  Lewis  Harman 
and  George  Baylor  with  forty  men  attacked  the  enemy's 
picket-post  near  Harper's  Ferry  and  captured  one  lieutenant 
and  nineteen  men. 

By  July  the  2nd  the  Federals  had  abandoned  Harper's 
Ferry  and  the  Maryland  Heights,  but  after  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  on  the  7th,  they  returned  to  the  Maryland 
Heights,  and  on  the  izj-th  reoccupied  Harper's  Ferry. 

Col.  A.  W.  Harman,  who  had  just  returned  from  home, 
having  recovered  from  the  wound  received  at  Fleetwood, 
went  with  a  squadron  on  a  reconnoissance  to  Bolivar 
Heights. 

Taking  a  squad  of  six  men  he  went  somewhat  in  advance 
and  to  the  left  of  the  road.  Suddenly  the  enemy  appeared 
in  force  and  charged. 

Colonel  Harman's  horse  fell,  stunning  him.  He  and 
Lieutenant  Eastham  and  two  men  from  Company  B  who 
were  with  him,  were  captured.  The  rest  of  the  squadron, 
under  Capt.  George  J.  Grandstaff  and  Lieut.  George  Bay 
lor,  who  were  in  the  road,  bravely  met  the  charge  of  the 
enemy  and  drove  him  back  in  confusion,  taking  twenty-five 
prisoners.10 

On  the  left  of  the  line,  guarded  by  the  Twelfth,  Maj. 
J.  L.  Knott  was  as  usual  very  active.  When  the  enemy 
advanced  towards  Shepherdstown  he  attacked  them  and  cap 
tured  thirty-three  prisoners. 

On  the  1 6th  Jones'  brigade  went  into  camp  near  Charles 
Town.  Within  the  next  week  there  were  a  few  small 
skirmishes,  but  nothing  worthy  of  note  occurred. 


10Col.  T.  B.  Massie's  Report. 


1 66  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

At  this  time  the  Shenandoah  from  recent  rains  was  much 
swollen,  and  the  Federals  took  advantage  of  it  to  cross  the 
Potomac  and  march  along  the  east  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 
taking  possession  of  the  gaps  in  the  mountain  as  if  to  get 
between  Lee  and  Richmond. 

Jones'  brigade  was  ordered  to  picket  the  lower  Shenan 
doah  as  long  as  necessary  for  the  safety  of  Lee's  right  flank, 
and  then  to  follow  the  army. 

Lee  now  moved  up  the  Valley,  and  crossing  the  Blue 
Ridge,  by  the  ist  of  September  had  resumed  the  line  of  the 
Rappahannock. 

By  the  middle  of  September  the  main  army  had  with 
drawn  behind  the  Rapidan. 


CHAPTER  VI 

September,  1863 

Brigade  returns  to  watch  the  fords  of  the  Rappahannock — Differences 
between  General  Stuart  and  General  Jones — The  latter  court- 
martialed  and  removed  to  another  field  of  operations — Personality 
of  Jones  and  attachment  of  his  troopers — Admiration  and  loyalty 
of  the  men  soon  won  by  "Jeb"  Stuart — Federals  under  Meade 
advance  towards  Culpeper  Court  House — Hard  and  continuous 
cavalry  fighting  against  Buford  and  Kilpatrick,  in  which  the  bri 
gade  now  under  command  of  General  Lomax  takes  prominent  part 
— Capt.  Samuel  B.  Coyner  of  the  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry 
killed  —  Enemy  surround  and  capture  one  of  Thompson's  guns  of 
Chew's  Battery — A  front  and  rear  fight  at  Jack's  Shop — Successful 
charge  against  infantry  by  Company  B  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia — 
Second  battle  at  Brandy  Station — Fight  at  Fauquier  Sulphur 
Springs — Notable  exploit  at  the  Rappahannock  bridge — Stuart  in  a 
tight  place  at  Auburn — Bold  dash  and  escape  of  his  command. 

The  Gettysburg  campaign  was  over,  and  the  army,  after 
an  active  service  of  three  months,  was  back  once  more  in 
the  section  of  country  from  which  it  had  started  northward. 
There  was  time  now  for  retrospect.  The  campaign  was 
reviewed  by  the  troops  with  various  conclusions. 

The  failure  of  Lee's  magnificent  army  to  take  the  heights 
of  Cemetery  Ridge  and  win  a  decisive  victory  north  of  the 
Potomac  disheartened  some. 

"Never  again,"  they  said,  "would  Lee  invade  the  North. 
Henceforth  the  battles  must  be  fought  on  Confederate  soil, 
and  the  Southland  alone  be  ravaged  by  the  hand  of  war." 

If  such  gloomy  forecast  appeared  to  many  well  founded, 
they  were  on  this  account  more  resolved  to  fight  harder  for 
success.  With  them  the  most  distressing  feature  of  the 
repulse  at  Gettysburg  was  the  disappointment  of  Lee.  That 


1 68  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

his  army  was  not  regarded  as  a  beaten  one  was  shown  by 
the  refusal  of  the  enemy  to  attack  it  at  Hagerstown. 

It  might  be  that  experience  had  taught  the  wisdom  of  a 
defensive  policy,  whatever  might  happen,  they  were  as  ready 
as  ever  to  follow  Lee  as  far  north  as  he  might  wish  to  lead 
them,  even  to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson. 

During  this  short  period  of  rest  the  time  was  occupied  in 
recruiting  the  strength  and  numbers  of  the  cavalry,  and  in 
reorganizing  it  into  brigades  and  divisions.  The  whole 
force!  was  now  divided  into  two  divisions,  commanded 
respectively  by  Generals  Wade  Hampton  and  Fitz  Lee; 
Jones'  brigade  becoming  a  part  of  Hampton's  division. 

It  was  during  this  period,  too,  that  the  brigade  was 
deprived  of  its  much  loved  commander,  Genl.  AVilliam  E. 
Jones.  His  removal  was  due  to  an  unfortunate  personal 
difference  between  himself  and  his  superior  officer,  Genl. 
J.  E.  B.  Stuart.  About  the  ist  of  September  General  Stuart 
ordered  him  under  arrest  and  preferred  charges  against  him 
for  using  disrespectful  language  to  his  superior  officer. 

The  result  of  the  court-martial  was  that  General  Jones 
was  removed  from  the  command  of  his  brigade  and  assigned 
to  duty  in  southwestern  Virginia.  It  was  generally  under- 
stood  that  the  court  based  its  action  upon  a  recognition  of 
the  fact  that  the  good  of  the  service  necessitated  the  removal 
of  Jones  from  under  the  authority  of  General  Stuart,  the 
incompatibility  of  their  dispositions  being  apparent.  Though 
the  action  of  the  court  was  unquestionably  dictated  by  a 
proper  regard  for  the  public  good  and  the  maintenance  of 
superior  authority,  yet  from  force  of  circumstances  it  was 
liable  to  misconstruction.  For  some  time  after,  the  impres 
sion  prevailed  among  the  rank  and  file  of  the  brigade,  that 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  169 

their  commander  had  been  sacrificed  to  the  animosity  of 
General  Stuart. 

A  succession  of  stirring  events,  however,  with  the  sense 
of  comrade-ship  in  danger,  Stuart's  uniform  kindness  to 
Jones'  old  troopers,  his  quick  personal  recognition  of  the 
men,  even  the  humblest  private,  coupled  with  his  personal 
bravery  and  dashing  leadership,  soon  won  for  him  the 
admiration  and  affection  of  the  men.  Loyalty  to  the 
Southern  cause,  however,  would  have  attracted  them  to  any 
commander  who  would  lead  them  to  victory. 

General  Jones'  connection  with  the  brigade  had  much  to 
do  with  the  compactness  of  its  organization.  His  great 
talent  in  this  respect  had  been  wisely  exercised  in  increasing 
its  efficiency.  He  looked  after  everything,  and  his  close 
attention  to  details  had  effected  many  needed  reforms.  At 
first  he  was  regarded  as  a  martinet,  but  afterwards,  when 
better  understood,  he  was  greatly  respected  and  loved  by 
rank  and  file. 

Totally  unlike  Ashby,  except  in  his  modesty,  which  almost 
amounted  to  bashfulness,  with  neither  superb  horsemanship 
nor  martial  presence  to  impress  the  imagination  of  his 
soldiers,  yet  when  the  hour  for  action  came  the  brigade  felt 
itself  always  strong  and  ready  to  do  its  full  part,  and  con 
fident  in  the  courage  and  ability  of  its  leader.  His  personal 
appearance  was  not  suggestive  of  the  dashing  brigadier, 
much  less  did  it  aspire  to  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of 
office.  The  faded  slouch  hat  was  decorated  with  no  nod 
ding  plume,  but  while  it  served  to  conceal  the  baldness  of 
his  head  it  partly  shaded  a  strong  and  noble  brow.  His 
features  were  plain  and  the  expression  determined  yet 
kindly.  His  eyes  of  steady  blue  glistened  with  intelligence, 
and  at  times  his  countenance  glowed  with  a  rather  cynical 


170  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

humor.  He  was  entirely  self-adjusted  in  all  his  notions  and 
opinions,  and  his  remarks  were  almost  always  original  and 
striking. 

In  the  confusion  of  ideas  brought  about  by  the  war,  he 
was  not  tempted  to  forget  the  standard  of  truth  and  honesty 
he  had  set  up  for  his  own  guidance.  And  never  was  needle 
truer  to  the  pole,  than  he,  to  what  he  conceived  to  be  his 
duty.  His  affection  for  his  troops  was  deep  and  strong. 
He  refused  to  fare  better  than  they,  and  on  the  march,  when 
necessary  to  bivouac  in  the  rain  he  would  not  sleep  himself 
under  shelter,  though  a  house  might  be  within  a  few  steps 
of  him,  but  with  his  oilcloth  around  him  would  lie  down  in 
the  rain  or  snow  among  his  troopers.  His  contempt  for  all 
kinds  of  display  perhaps  made  him  go  too  far  in  the  other 
extreme,  especially  in  the  matter  of  dress.  The  insignia  of 
his  rank,  if  worn  at  all,  was  usually  concealed  by  his  coat 
collar,  and  he  was  frequently  taken  by  his  own  men  for  a 
private  in  the  ranks. 

Once,  on  his  West  Virginia  raid,  when  the  troops  were 
crossing  the  Gauley  River,  a  soldier  who  was  afoot  was 
anxious  to  find  some  way  to  get  over  dry-shod.,  He  asked 
another  soldier  to  assist  him.  The  latter,  pointing  to 
General  Jones,  who  was  sitting  in  a  skiff  near  the  shore, 
said,  "Maybe  that  old  fellow  there  will  row  you  across." 

Going  up  to  General  Jones  he  said,  "Old  man,  I  will  give 
you  a  dollar  to  take  me  over  the  river." 

"All  right,"  said  the  General,  "jump  in."  And  he  rowed 
him  over,  greatly  enjoying  the  joke. 

It  was  during  the  session  of  the  court-martial  before 
which  General  Jones  was  arraigned,  that  the  Confederates 
were  forced  to  abandon  Culpeper  Court  House,  by  a  general 
advance  of  the  Federal  Army  across  the  Rappahannock. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  171 

About  midnight  September  i2th,  1863,  Stuart  received 
information  that  General  Meade  would  on  the  following 
day  make  a  forward  movement. 

Steps  were  taken  to  start  the  baggage  trains  on  the  way  to 
the  Rapidan  as  soon  as  practicable,  and  every  necessary  pre 
caution  was  taken  to  delay  the  enemy's  advance. 

At  the  first  streak  of  dawn  the  Federals  drove  in  the  Con 
federate  pickets  at  the  river,  and  crossing  in  heavy  force 
about  a  mile  south  of  the  Rappahannock  bridge,  formed  in 
line  of  battle.  Three  divisions  of  cavalry,  followed  closely 
by  Warren's  corps  of  infantry,  constituted  the  advance 
column.  They  were  met  at  first  by  Jones'  brigade  only, 
commanded  by  Col.  L.  L.  Lomax.  White's  Battalion  had 
not  yet  returned  from  detached  service,  and  on  that  day 
Lomax's  command  consisted  only  of  the  Eleventh,  Seventh, 
Twelfth,  and  Sixth  Virginia  Cavalry. 

As  the  odds  against  him  were  clearly  overwhelming, 
Lomax  only  attempted  to  retard  the  enemy  as  much  as  his 
force  would  permit.  No  detailed  account  of  the  fight  is 
given,  as  there  were  no  official  reports  of  it  from  Con 
federate  sources.  The  Federal  reports,  however,  warrant 
the  inference  that  their  advance  was  hotly  contested. 

The  First  Brigade,  under  Col.  H.  E.  Davies,  led  the 
advance.  The  Confederate  outposts  were  pressed  back,  as 
the  Federals  moved  forward,  confident  in  their  strength. 
Upon  approaching  the  railroad  there  were  signs  of  serious 
resistance.  The  enemy  was  charged  by  the  Seventh  Vir 
ginia,  under  Colonel  Marshall,  and  driven  back  some  dis 
tance  in  confusion,  but  reinforcements  pouring  to  the  front, 
soon  the  blue  lines  again  advanced. 

The  grey  troopers  were  not  idle.  Colonel  Lomax  had 
posted  his  squadrons  at  points  of  advantage,  and  as  soon  as 


172  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

the  enemy's  column  moved  forward,  it  was  met  and  driven 
back  with  a  sabre  charge.  Chew's  Battery  did  effective 
work,  taking  positions  close  to  the  enemy  and  sending  bombs 
with  unerring  aim  into  his  ranks.  The  enemy,  in  spite  of 
overwhelming  numbers,  did  not  have  it  all  his  own  way,  and 
Lomax's  purpose  to  delay  him  for  a  time  was  successfully 
accomplished. 

Retiring  from  the  vicinity  of  the  station,  with  heavy  lines 
of  skirmishers  supported  by  mounted  squadrons,  and  Chew's 
Battery  from  different  points  maintaining  a  constant  fire, 
Lomax  halted  on  a  range  of  hills  northeast  of  Culpeper 
Court  House.  Here,  according  to  Federal  accounts,  Lomax 
made  a  gallant  stand  with  four  regiments  against  the  two 
divisions  of  Federal  cavalry  under  Buford  and  Kilpatrick. 

Says  General  Kilpatrick  in  his  report :  "The  enemy  here 
made  a  determined  resistance  with  a  battery  of  artillery  and 
a  large  force  of  cavalry." 

The  "large  force"  consisted  of  no  more  than  the  Eleventh, 
Twelfth,  Seventh  and  Sixth  Virginia  Cavalry.  With  these 
four  regiments  Lomax  held  his  ground  for  quite  a  time 
against  the  overwhelming  odds.  Not  until  the  Federals, 
swinging  around  their  left  threatened  the  Confederate  rear 
and  right,  did  Lomax  abandon  his  position. 

On  the  hills  south  of  the  Court  House  another  stand  was 
made.  Lomax  was  here  joined  by  W.  H.  F.  Lee's  brigade 
under  Col.  R.  L.  T.  Beall,  and  the  two  brigades  for  several 
hours  resisted  all  attempts  to  drive  them  from  this  position. 
Charge  after  charge,  gallantly  made  by  the  Federals,  was 
met  with  countercharge  by  the  men  in  grey  and  repulsed, 
while  the  scattered  columns  of  the  Federals  were  torn  with 
shells  from  Chew's  guns. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  173 

Says  General  Kilpatrick  in  his  report :  "I  rode  over  and 
led  the  Fifth  again  into  the  woods.  Here  we  met  with  Gen 
eral  Custer,  who  was  heavily  engaged,  and  did  all  that  men 
could  do  to  advance.  We  were,  however,  overpowered  by 
numbers,  and  the  Second  New  York  was  flanked,  and  its 
extreme  right  driven  in.  At  this  juncture  the  affair  looked 
badly  and  I  feared  the  command  would  be  driven  back,  but 
I  brought  up  the  First  West  Virginia  Cavalry,  the  last  regi 
ment  at  my  command,  which  had  only  the  day  before  been 
supplied  with  Spencer  rifles.  Hitherto  they  had  not  taken 
any  active  part  in  the  engagements,  and  on  my  call  sprang 
from  their  horses  and,  led  by  Colonel  Richmond,  rushed 
into  the  woods." 

It  will  thus  be  seen  from  Federal  accounts  how  hotly  the 
ground  was  contested.  Being  ''overpowered  by  numbers,"  is 
the  usual  Federal  excuse  for  the  failure  of  an  advance  move 
ment. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  the  two  brigades  of  Lomax 
and  Lee  were  confronted  by  two  divisions  of  Federal  cav 
alry,  the  numerous  repulses  of  the  Federals  must  be  attrib 
uted  rather  to  the  valor  and  skill  of  the  Confederates  than  to 
their  superiority  in  numbers. 

It  \vas  in  one  of  these  hand-to-hand  conflicts  that  the  gal 
lant  Capt.  Samuel  B.  Coyner,  commanding  Company  D  of 
the  Seventh  Virginia,  was  killed. 

When  it  became  evident  that  the  small  Confederate  force 
could  no  longer  hold  the  position  against  Buford's  and  Kil- 
patrick's  divisions,  Stuart,  who  had  taken  command,  began 
to  withdraw  his  troops.  One  gun  of  Chew's  Battery  sta 
tioned  on  a  hill  north  of  Culpeper  Court  House,  being  very 
near  the  enemy  in  a  commanding  position,  had  greatly  pun- 


174  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

ished  the  Federals.  More  than  once,  mounted  and  on  foot, 
ineffectual  attempts  had  been  made  to  capture  it.  But  as 
Lomax  withdrew  a  Federal  regiment,  concealed  by  a  rail 
road  cut,  passed  beyond  the  gun  and  turning  came  up  in  its 
rear.  The  squadron  supporting  the  gun,  discovering  the 
Federal  regiment  making  for  their  rear,  gave  way  without 
resistance,  leaving  the  gun  helpless.  Captain  Chew,  discov 
ering  the  situation  and  seeing  the  impossibility  of  saving 
the  gun,  started  with  Lieutenant  Thompson  to  make  their 
own  escape.  Noticing  that  the  officer  leading  the  charging 
regiment  was  far  in  advance  of  his  command,  they  bore 
down  upon  him,  exchanging  several  shots  as  they 
approached.  A  well-aimed  shot  from  Thompson's  pistol 
unseated  the  gallant  Federal,  and  seizing  the  reins  of  the 
riderless  horse,  Thompson  led  him  off  as  he  and  Chew  in  a 
gallop  made  good  their  escape. 

Stuart,  having  held  his  position  long  enough  to  secure  the 
safety  of  his  trains,  fell  back  towards  the  Rapidan  at  his  own 
gait. 

On  September  the  22nd  Stuart  had  an  engagement  with 
the  enemy  at  Jack's  Shop  in  Madison  county,  that  threatened 
at  one  time  to  end  in  a  serious  disaster.  Of  this  affair  no 
reports  can  be  found  from  Confederate  sources,  while  the 
Federal  commander,  Genl.  John  Buford,  contents  himself 
with  speaking  of  it  as  a  great  Federal  success. 

It  appears  that  General  Buford,  with  one  division  of  Fed 
eral  cavalry,  started  from  Madison  Court  House  September 
the  22nd  on  a  reconnoissance  down  the  Gordonsville  turn 
pike,  expecting  to  connect  with  another  division  under  Gen- 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  175 

eral  Kilpatrick,  in  the  vicinity  of  Jack's  Shop,  not  far  from 
Liberty  Mills.1 

Stuart,  hearing  of  Buford's  coming,  went  out  from  Lib 
erty  Mills  with  a  portion  of  Hampton's  division  and  encoun 
tered  him  near  Jack  Shop.  Stuart,  hurling  regiment  after 
regiment  upon  the  strong  columns  of  the  enemy  without 
making  much  impression.  In  the  midst  of  this  struggle, 
Kilpatrick's  division,  with  Davies'  brigade  in  front,  struck 
the  turnpike  just  in  the  rear  of  Stuart's  column.2 

There  was  a  rush  of  riders  in  hot  haste  informing  Stuart 
of  his  danger,  and  the  sound  of  small  arms  in  their  rear, 
soon  made  the  Confederates  understand  the  gravity  of  the 
situation.  Between  the  two  Federal  divisions  Stuart  was 
now  hemmed  in,  and  naught  but  a  cool  head  and  steady 
valor  could  extricate  him. 

Colonel  Davies  had  come  unexpectedly  upon  Stuart,  and 
the  surprise  was  mutual.  But  to  the  Confederates,  who 
were  aware  of  Buford's  hostile  presence  in  their  front,  it 
looked  as  if  a  trap  had  been  cunningly  laid  for  bagging 
Stuart  and  his  whole  army. 

Stuart,  however,  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  Placing  the 
guns  of  Chew's  Battery  in  an  open  field,  at  a  point  from 
which  could  be  had  a  range  and  view  to  front  and  rear,  the 
battery  opened  in  both  directions  at  the  same  time.  The 
bullets  from  the  sharpshooters  of  Buford  and  Kilpatrick 
now  interlapped  among  the  Confederate  ranks.  The  perilous 
situation  of  the  Confederates  was  understood  by  every 
soldier,  but  inspired  by  the  coolness  and  gallant  bearing  of 
Stuart,  as  he  quickly  made  his  dispositions,  every  man 
resolved  to  do  his  best. 


1From  General   Buford's   Report. 
2Davies'  Report. 


176  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  task  of  breaking  through  Kilpatrick  and  reopening 
the  way  to  Liberty  Mills  was  chiefly  assigned  to  Jones'  bri 
gade,  then  commanded  by  Colonel  Funsten.  A  part  of  this 
command  was  dismounted  and  advanced  upon  the  woods, 
while  the  mounted  men  charged  where  openings  would  per 
mit.  On  the  left  was  the  Seventh,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Marshall;  on  the  right  the  Eleventh,  under  Major 
Ball. 

The  Twelfth,  under  Colonel  Massie,  occupying  the  center, 
advanced  upon  the  woods  close  to  the  edge  of  which  was 
a  rail  fence  separating  it  from  the  open  field.  Openings  in 
the  fence  were  quickly  made  in  the  face  of  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  enemy's  mounted  and  dismounted  men  in  the  woods. 
The  nature  of  the  ground  was  such  that  organization  could 
not  be  preserved,  and  soon  the  men  and  officers  of  the 
different  regiments,  were  mingled  almost  en  masse,  and 
rallied  around  the  person  of  General  Stuart,  who  urged  and 
led  them  into  action. 

It  was  fortunate  that  Stuart  met  the  rear  attack  of  Kil 
patrick  with  such  promptness  and  vigor,  for  had  there  been 
delay  sufficient  for  Kilpatrick  to  throw  his  whole  force 
across  Stuart's  line  of  retreat,  with  Buford's  strong  division 
pressing  his  front  line,  it  is  hardly  possible  that  Stuart  could 
have  escaped  from  the  net  set  for  him  without  loss  of  his 
artillery  and  a  good  part  of  his  command. 

The  fighting  in  this  engagement  was  close  and  fierce  with 
both  sabre  and  pistol,  and  there  were  some  notable  instances 
of  personal  adventure  and  heroism,  rewarded  afterwards 
by  General  Stuart,  with  official  mention  and  recommenda 
tion  for  promotion. 

Having  swept  Kilpatrick  from  his  path  and  put  him  to 
flight,  Stuart  withdrew  from  the  engagement  with  Buford ; 


LIEUT.    B.   C.   WASHINGTON 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  177 

followed  by  him,  however,  almost  to  Liberty  Mills,  where 
he  crossed  the  Rapidan,  being  there  reinforced  by  Wilcox's 
division  of  Confederate  infantry. 

The  losses  in  this  fight  while  considerable  on  both  sides, 
considering  the  short  time  they  were  engaged,  are  not  men 
tioned  in  either  the  Confederate  or  Federal  reports  except 
that  Colonel  Davies  reports  that  Major  Mclrvin  of  Kil-- 
Patrick's  staff,  Captain  Hasty  of  the  Second  New  York,  and 
sixty-nine  prisoners  fell  in  the  hands  of  the  Confederates.3 

The  severest  loss  to  the  Confederates  in  this  engagement 
was  in  the  death  of  that  splendid  soldier,  Capt.  John  H. 
Magruder,  of  Company  B,  Seventh  Regiment,  who  fell  in 
the  assault  on  Kilpatrick's  column. 

Thaddeus  Baney  of  Company  B,  Twelfth  Virginia,  and 
Lieut.  John  Green  of  the  brigade  staff,  were  also  among  the 
killed. 

After  the  affair  at  Jack's  Shop,  for  two  weeks  there  was 
comparative  quiet  along  the  cavalry  front.  Many  of  the 
men  were  furloughed  to  go  home  and  procure  fresh  horses, 
while  the  rest  gave  themselves  up  to  making  the  most  of 
their  freedom  from  active  service. 

The  orchards  of  Madison  county  groaned  under  loads  of 
precious  fruit,  the  pastures  were  fine  and  the  people  kind  and 
hospitable. 

On  the  loth  of  October  all  were  again  in  the  saddle  near 
Madison  Court  House,  Colonel  Funsten  of  the  Eleventh 
commanding  the  brigade. 


3Major  Mclrvin  was  captured  by  Private  B.  C.  Washington  of  Com 
pany  B,  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry,  in  a  hand-to-hand  fight,  in  which 
Washington  disarmed  Mclrvin  by  a  cut  across  his  sabre  hand.  Wash 
ington  was  promoted  to  a  second  lieutenancy  for  his  services  at  Jack's 
Shop. 


178  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

General  Lee  had  begun  his  flank  movement  on  Meade's 
army,  and  was  engaged  in  what  is  known  as  the  Bristoe 
campaign. 

As  the  success  of  the  movement  depended  upon  its  secrecy, 
the  cavalry  were  expected  to  screen  the  march  of  Lee's 
infantry.  Funsten's  command  was  in  front  of  the  column 
that  moved  towards  Woodville  on  the  Sperryville  turnpike. 
It  moved  for  the  most  part  over  blind  roads  or  through  the 
fields,  twisting  and  turning  under  the  shelter  of  woods  and 
hillocks  to  avoid  observation  from  the  Federal  signal-posts 
on  the  peaks  of  the  neighboring  mountains. 

On  the  morning  of  the  nth  the  command  had  reached 
and  was  marching  along  the  road  that  leads  from  Sperry 
ville  to  Culpeper.  Here  it  was  joined  by  Stuart,  who  de 
tached  the  Eleventh,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ball,  and 
sent  it  towards  Rixeyville  on  the  Warrenton  Road.  Early 
in  the  day  the  Federal  pickets  were  driven  in.  Their  infan 
try  camps  showed  that  they  had  just  been  deserted  in  great 
haste,  and  the  column  moved  forward  at  a  trot. 

When  within  a  few  miles  of  Culpeper  Court  House  a  regi 
ment  of  infantry  was  seen  emerging  from  the  skirt  of  a 
woods  into  an  open  field  and  moving  in  the  direction  of 
Culpeper  Court  House. 

Company  B  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia,  under  command  of 
Lieut.  George  Baylor,  was  in  the  advance,  being  that  day 
detached  and  under  the  immediate  direction  of  General 
Stuart  for  any  service  he  might  require. 

As  soon  as  General  Stuart  saw  the  Federal  regiment, 
having  no  other  force  at  hand  he  directed  Baylor  to  charge 
it  immediately.  The  enemy  had  reached  the  open  ground 
and,  forming  quickly  in  line,  delivered  an  irregular  volley 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  179 

in  the  face  of  the  troopers  at  close  range,  which,  however, 
overshot  them,  doing  but  little  execution.  Having  no  time 
to  reload  and  the  horsemen  bearing  down  upon  them,  they 
fled  precipitately,  having  cast  away  their  knapsacks  and  some 
of  them  their  guns.  But  for  an  almost  impassable  ravine, 
which  they  had  crossed  before  delivering  their  fire,  a  large 
number  of  them  would  have  been  captured.  There  were 
several  killed  and  wounded  and  a  few  prisoners  taken  by 
such  horsemen  as  crossed  the  ravine  here  and  there. 

Col.  John  Esten  Cooke,  then  aide-de-camp  to  General 
Stuart,  an  eye-witness  of  the  charge,  says : 

"Never  have  I  seen  him  (Stuart)  more  excited.  He  was 
plainly  on  fire  with  the  idea  of  capturing  the  whole  party. 
The  staff  scattered  to  summon  the  cavalry,  and  soon  a  company 
came  at  full  gallop.  It  was  the  Jefferson  Company,  under  that 
brave  officer  Capt.  George  Baylor. 

''  'Charge  and  cut  them  down !'  shouted  Stuart,  his  drawn 
sword  flashing  as  he  forced  his  horse  over  fallen  trees  and  the 
debris  of  a  great  deserted  camp.  A  fine  spectacle  followed. 
As  the  Federal  infantry  double-quicked  up  a  slope  Baylor 
charged.  As  his  men  darted  upon  them  they  suddenly  halted, 
came  to  a  front  face  as  though  they  were  the  parts  of  some 
glittering  machine.  The  muzzles  spouted  flame  and  the  cavalry 
received  the  fire  at  thirty  yards.  It  seemed  to  check  them,  but 
it  did  not.  They  had  come  to  an  impassable  ditch.  In 
another  moment  the  infantry  broke,  every  man  for  himself,  and 
making  a  detour  the  cavalry  pursued  and  captured  large 
numbers." 

General  Stuart's  official  report  of  the  incident  is  as 
follows : 

"In  our  rapid  pursuit  of  the  enemy  we  found  we  had  passed 
an  infantry  regiment  of  the  enemy  which  had  been  on  the  out- 


180  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

post  and  was  now  marching-  parallel  to  our  column  on  our  right 
in  the  direction  of  Culpeper  Court  House.  Every  effort  was 
made  to  close  up  the  column,  then  elongated  by  pursuit,  so  as 
to  catch  this  regiment,  but  apprehending  it  would  escape,  the 
only  cavalry  I  could  lay  my  hands  on  was  ordered  to  charge 
the  regiment  as  soon  as  it  debouched  into  the  open  ground. 
This  was  gallantly  responded  to  by  a  company  of  the  Twelfth 
Virginia  under  Lieutenant  Baylor,  and  but  for  an  impassable 
ditch  these  brave  men  wrould  have  ridden  over  the  enemy  and 
cut  them  down  with  the  sabre.  They  charged  within  twenty 
or  thirty  yards  of  the  column  and  fired  a  volley  into  it,  but  were 
forced,  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  to  retire,  which  was 
done  without  the  loss  of  a  man  or  horse,  although  the  enemy's 
fire  was  delivered  almost  in  their  faces.  The  enemy  did  not 
further  contest  the  field.  They  broke  and  ran,  dropping  guns, 
knapsacks  and  blankets,  several  of  their  number  being 
captured." 

Funsten,  whose  command  now  consisted  only  of  the 
Twelfth  and  Seventh  Virginia,  gave  the  front  to  General 
Gordon's  North  Carolina  brigade,  and  the  whole  column 
moved  forward  at  a  gallop  towards  Culpeper  Court  House. 

As  the  leading  files  emerged  from  a  dense  woods  upon  a 
slope  in  sight  and  within  a  half  mile  of  the  Court  House, 
they  were  saluted  with  well-directed  volleys  from  a  battery 
placed  on  an  eminence  near  the  town. 

A  squadron  of  Federal  cavalry  now  made  its  appearance 
and  was  driven  through  the  town  by  a  gallant  charge  of 
Colonel  Ferribee's  regiment,  Gordon's  brigade.  But  it  was 
soon  discovered  that  Kilpatrick's  whole  division,  4,000 
strong,  was  massed  east  of  the  Court  House  in  a  good 
position. 

Stuart  having  only  five  regiments  available,  amounting  in 
all  to  about  1,500  men,  concluded  not  to  attack  the  enemy 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  181 

at  this  point.  Turning  the  head  of  his  column  to  the  left, 
with  Funsten's  two  regiments  leading,  the  Twelfth  in  front, 
he  marched  rapidly  towards  Brandy  Station  and  soon  got 
into  a  road  nearly  parallel  with  the  one  leading  from  the 
Court  House  to  the  same  point.  Before  reaching  this  place 
it  was  apparent,  from  great  clouds  of  dust  on  the  right,  that 
heavy  masses  of  the  enemy  were  moving  in  the  same  direc 
tion. 

Soon,  upon  passing  a  belt  of  timber,  the  two  columns  came 
in  full  view  of  each  other. 

About  a  half  mile  to  the  right,  on  higher  ground  and  on  a 
line  nearly  parallel  to  Stuart's  course,  appeared  the  serried 
masses  of  Kilpatrick's  column.  He,  divining  Stuart's  pur 
pose,  was  going  at  a  rapid  gait,  giving  him  in  fact  a  race 
for  the  hill  at  Brandy.  The  point  each  was  riding  towards 
was  nearly  three  miles  off,  and  each  step  brought  the  forces 
a  little  nearer  each  other.  As  they  moved  along  at  a  trot, 
grey  and  blue  sent  up  shouts  of  mutual  defiance,  brandishing 
their  sabres  menacingly,  and  occasionally  solitary  horsemen 
rode  out  from  either  column  and  exchanged  shots. 

It  was  a  novel  situation  and  a  remarkable  sight  to  behold. 
The  compact  masses  of  Kilpatrick,  stretching  back  as  far  as 
the  eye  could  reach,  came  on  in  all  the  panoply  of  war.  The 
sun  shone  brightly  in  a  cloudless  sky,  and  its  beams  glancing 
from  the  myriad  glittering  sabres  presented  a  scene  of 
martial  splendor. 

The  manifest  disparity  of  the  opposing  forces  was  by  no 
means  encouraging.  In  his  five  regiments  Stuart  could  not 
have  numbered  more  than  1,400  men.  Kilpatrick  acknowl 
edges  an  effective  strength  of  4,000. 


1 82  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

To  the  common  soldier,  as  the  endless  stretch  of  the  blue 
masses  was  surveyed,  the  odds  seemed  overwhelming,  but 
Stuart  was  leading  and  they  were  content  to  follow. 

Upon  approaching  the  inevitable  point  of  contact,  Stuart 
kept  rising  in  his  stirrups  as  if  looking  for  something  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Federal  column,  the  head  of  which  was  now 
far  in  advance  of  his. 

At  last,  when  near  the  Botts'  house,  the  smoke  of  a  burst 
ing  shell  was  distinctly  seen  above  the  ranks  of  the  enemy. 

"That's  Fitz!"  cried  Stuart,  and  immediately  ordered  a 
charge. 

The  Twelfth  was  in  the  advance  and,  under  Col.  Thomas 
E.  Massie,  led  the  charge.  But  the  retreating  column  they 
were  charging  seemed  to  dissolve,  and  there  was  exposed  to 
view  a  battle  line  of  dismounted  men  confronting  them.  It 
was  the  First  West  Virginia  Regiment,  armed  with  Spencer 
repeating  rifles.  From  this  double  line  of  carbineers  flamed 
continuous  volleys  that  carried  death  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Twelfth,  but  the  files  came  pressing  on  with  shouts.  Right 
bravely  the  West  Virginia  men  stood  to  their  work.  They 
could  see  what  fortunately  the  men  of  the  Twelfth  could  not 
see,  blue  squadrons  assailing  the  column,  charging  on  the 
right  flank.  Nothing,  however,  could  stop  the  onset  of  the 
Twelfth,  and  before  it  got  within  sabre's  length  the  First 
West  Virginia  broke  in  headlong  flight,  hotly  chased  by  the 
grey  troopers  for  half  a  mile. 

In  the  meantime  the  Federals  were  not  idle.  Observing 
the  charge  of  the  Twelfth,  Colonel  Davis  led  two  regiments 
against  the  two  North  Carolina  regiments  supporting  the 
Twelfth  Virginia.  Taken  in  flank  the  troops  were  thrown 
into  disorder  and  broken.  The  pursuing  Federals  were  met 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  183 

by  the  Seventh  Virginia  and  driven  off,  the  contest  drifting 
all  this  time  towards  the  neighborhood  of  Brandy  Station. 

While  thus  engaged  there  was  much  confusion.  Many  of 
the  bombs  from  Genl.  Fitz  Lee's  batteries  fell  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Confederates. 

Hearing  the  shouts  of  the  Twelfth,  and  seeing  the  rush 
of  the  bluecoats  towards  the  body  of  men  he  was  attack 
ing,  he  mistook  the  movement  for  a  Federal  reinforcement 
and  was  checked  rather  than  encouraged  by  it.4 

The  Federals,  still  pushing  on,  soon  gained  the  hill,  and 
planting  their  batteries  raked  the  approaches  to  it  with  shell 
and  shrapnel. 

Stuart,  now  uniting  with  Fitz  Lee,  vigorously  assailed  the 
Federal  position.  The  fighting  here  was  chiefly  done  by 
Lomax's  and  Chambliss'  brigades. 

"Our  dismounted  men  were  several  times  surrounded  by 
the  enemy's  cavalry,  but  were  each  time  rescued  by  gallant 
charges  of  their  mounted  comrades."5 

Driven  from  the  woods  around  Brandy  Station  the  enemy 
took  position  with  infantry  and  artillery  supports  on  Fleet- 
wood  Hill. 

Deeming  it  unwise  to  assail  him  here,  Stuart  forced  him  to 
retire  by  ordering  Fitz  Lee  by  a  flank  movement  to  threaten 
his  rear. 

He  then  withdrew,  much  harassed  by  our  cavalry,  and 
crossed  the  Rappahannock  about  sundown. 

The  losses  sustained  by  the  Twelfth,  which  had  three  com 
panies  detached,  and  the  Seventh,  amounted  to  thirty-three 


4Stuart's  Report. 
6Stuart's  Report. 


184  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 


killed  and  wounded.    They  captured  in  this  fight  200  hun 
dred  prisoners.6 

Referring  to  the  first  charge  upon  the  Federal  column, 
which  was  led  by  himself,  Captain  Baylor,  in  his  "Bull  Run 
to  Bull  Run,"  page  166,  says: 

"On  the  afternoon  of  October  the  nth,  we  reached  the 
Barbour  house,  overlooking  Brandy  Station,  and  found  Kilpat- 
rick's  division  of  cavalry  moving  back  from  Culpeper  in  the 
direction  of  the  station.  It  was  a  magnificent  spectacle.  Our 
artillery  was  not  in  reach  and  few  of  our  cavalry  up. 

"But  General  Stuart,  being  apprised  that  Fitz  Lee  had 
arrived  on  the  opposite  flank  of  the  enemy  at  Brandy  Station, 
ordered  the  Twelfth,  under  Colonel  Massie,  to  charge  the 
column  and  cut  off  Kilpatrick's  retreat.  Company  B  was  in 
front  of  the  regiment,  and  down  the  slope  it  went  and  reached 
a  point  near  the  station,  where  it  was  discovered  that  the 
enemy  had  enveloped  us,  and  it  became  a  race  on  our  part  to 
escape  capture.  We  were  so  intermingled  with  the  enemy  that 
they  could  not  use  their  guns  and  pistols  without  endangering 
their  own  men.  Lieutenant  Washington  and  myself  were  near 
together  on  the  retreat,  and  jumping  a  ditch  his  horse  fell  and 
pinioned  him  to  the  ground.  As  my  horse  cleared  the  ditch 
safely,  Washington  called  for  help,  but  with  visions  of  Forts 
McHenry  and  Delaware  before  me  and  a  host  of  pursuers 
behind,  I  was  constrained  to  leave  him  to  his  fate.  I  escaped 
and  he  was  taken  prisoner,  but  did  not  remain  long  in  the 
enemy's  hand,  as  he  appeared  next  morning  in  camp,  minus 
horse  and  arms,  having  made  a  miraculous  escape  during  the 
night." 

General  Stuart,  in  his  report,  says : 

"The  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Massie 
commanding,  was  at  the  head  of  the  column,  and  having  been 


6Stuart's  Report. 


LIEUT.-COL.    THOMAS    E.    MASSIE 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  185 

ordered  to  charge  did  so  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  cutting 
off  1,200  or  1,500  of  the  enemy,  all  of  whom  would  have  been 
killed  or  captured  had  not  the  headlong  rapidity  of  the  pursuit, 
added  to  the  difficult  character  of  the  ground,  so  greatly 
extended  the  column  as  to  impair  for  the  moment  the  efficiency 
of  its  action.  The  loss  to  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing  was  considerable,  the  two  regiments  of  Colonel  Fun- 
sten's  command  alone  having  taken  200." 

General  Kilpatrick,  in  his  report  says :  "Many  gallant 
charges  were  made  by  the  division,  and  many  equally  gal 
lant  charges  by  the  enemy  repulsed.  The  division  fell  slowly 
back,  one  brigade  after  another,  in  good  order,  and  finally 
crossed  the  Rappahannock  and  went  into  camp  about  eight 
P.  M." 

The  next  morning,  October  i2th,  Colonel  Funsten  was 
ordered  to  march  to  Rixeyville  and  move  in  front  of  Gen 
eral  Ewell's  column.  About  two  miles  from  Jeffersonton 
Ewell  was  met  with,  and  here  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Ball,  which  had  been  detached  for  two 
days,  rejoined  the  brigade. 

In  and  around  Jeffersonton,  strongly  posted  behind  hills, 
fences,  and  a  stone  wall  that  enclosed  a  churchyard,  were 
two  regiments  of  Federal  cavalry.  The  Eleventh,  dis 
mounted,  had  already  made  a  vigorous  assault  upon  the  posi 
tion,  but  had  been  repulsed  with  considerable  loss. 

Colonel  Funsten  now  sent  Colonel  Marshall  with  the  Sev 
enth  to  assail  the  left  and  rear  of  the  enemy,  he  himself  going 
with  the  Twelfth,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Massie  commanding, 
towards  their  right  and  rear. 

About  a  half  mile  from  Fauquier  Springs,  in  the  pines, 
Colonel  Funsten  suddenly  came  face  to  face  with  another 
Federal  regiment  of  Gregg's  division.  The  Twelfth,  being 


iS6  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

ordered  to  charge,  quickly  responded  with  pistol  and  sabre 
upon  the  opposing  column.  Though  somewhat  surprised, 
the  Federals  made  a  short  and  stubborn  fight,  and  then 
retreated  towards  the  river. 

In  the  meantime  Colonel  Ball  with  the  Eleventh,  having 
failed  in  his  assault  on  foot  upon  the  Federal  position  at  Jef- 
fersonton,  now,  with  his  regiment  mounted,  made  a  vigorous 
charge  upon  his  right  flank,  and  succeeded  in  driving  back 
the  cavalry  supporting  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  The  lat 
ter  were  cut  off,  but  were  in  part  saved  from  capture  by  fresh 
troops  coming  to  their  assistance.  Ball  fell  back  for  a 
moment,  but  reforming  again,  with  repeated  charges  forced 
the  Federals  down  the  road  to  the  point  where  Funsten  was. 
This  Federal  force,  now  uniting  with  the  one  in  Funsten's 
front,  pressed  bravely  forward.  The  Twelfth  again  charged, 
aided  by  a  portion  of  the  Eleventh,  and  a  bloody  and  doubt 
ful  contest  now  raged  with  disorder  on  both  sides,  through 
the  piney  thickets  and  heavy  timber,  and  over  occasional 
spots  of  cleared  but  rocky  ground. 

The  shouts  of  officers  and  men  calling  their  commands  to 
"stand  fast"  and  "come  on,"  and  the  cries  and  oaths  of  the 
combatants  at  close  quarters,  mingled  with  the  rattle  of  small 
arms,  intensified  this  war  scene. 

Flere  Lieutenant  Poague  of  the  Eleventh,  who  in  many  a 
previous  battle  had  shown  extraordinary  gallantry,  after 
performing  prodigies  of  valor,  fell  mortally  wounded. 

The  Federals  were  gradually  forced  back.  Though 
often  rallying  and  advancing  with  stubborn  courage,  at  last 
broken  and  in  full  retreat  they  recrossed  the  river,  leaving 
many  of  their  dead  and  wounded  and  200  prisoners  in  the 
hands  of  the  Confederates. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  187 

The  Federal  version  of  this  affair  is  given  in  part  by  Gen 
eral  Gregg  in  his  official  report.  He  says :  "They  charged 
impetuously  in  front  and  on  both  flanks  with  infantry  and 
cavalry,  and  we  were  driven  into  the  woods,  where  for  half 
an  hour  the  fight  raged  furiously.  At  this  juncture  informa 
tion  was  brought  that  the  enemy  had  possession  of  the  road 
in  my  rear,  and  that  we  were  surrounded.  This  information 
having  found  its  way  to  the  men,  created  some  confusion, 
and  it  became  impossible  to  reform  the  command,  and  I  wras 
compelled  to  retire  in  some  confusion,  fighting,  however, 
every  foot  of  the  ground.  It  was  here  that  Major  Young, 
Fourth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  Lieutenants  Cutler  and 
Martin  of  my  staff  were  wounded." 

Sending  nowr  the  Seventh  and  Eleventh  Virginia  to  cross 
the  river  higher  up,  Stuart  made  arrangements  to  force  a 
passage  at  Warrenton  Springs. 

The  Rappahannock  at  this  point  is  narrow  and  deep,  and 
across  it  wras  a  bridge  hardly  more  than  a  gangway  of  planks. 
On  the  east  or  north  bank,  the  land  rises  gradually  for  a  half 
mile  into  a  ridge,  which  at  that  time  was  heavily  wooded. 
Between  the  crest  of  this  ridge  and  the  Springs  Hotel,  the 
ground  was  open,  except,  that  about  half  way  from  the  river 
to  the  top  of  the  hill,  was  a  body  of  timber  running  west  of 
and  reaching  to  the  Warrenton  Road.  On  the  ridge  General 
Gregg,  the  officer  in  command  of  the  Federal  force,  had 
planted  a  battery,  placing  one  gun  near  the  river.  The 
northern  bank  of  the  river  above  and  below  the  bridge, 
was  lined  with  sharpshooters,  most  of  them  in  rifle-pits, 

Under  Stuart's  personal  supervision  the  Twelfth  Regi 
ment  was  ordered  to  charge  the  bridge  and  dislodge  the 
enemy  on  the  other  side.  Company  B  of  the  Twelfth  Vir- 


1 88  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

ginia,  under  Capt.  George  Baylor,  was  to  make  the  dash, 
the  rest  of  the  regiment  to  follow  in  supporting  distance. 
Behind  the  Twelfth  and  on  a  wooded  eminence,  eight  guns 
of  General  Long's  artillery  were  prepared  to  support  the 
assault,  though  this  fact  was  unknown  to  most  of  the  cav 
alrymen. 

At  the  command  to  charge  Baylor's  company,  compactly 
formed,  with  sabres  drawn,  moved  promptly  forward  from 
cover  of  a  wooded  knoll,  first  at  a  trot  and  soon  quickening 
into  a  gallop,  Colonel  Massie  closely  following  with  the  rest 
of  the  regiment.  Immediately  the  guns  from  the  Federal 
battery  and  those  of  Long  opened  with  a  deafening  roar. 
So  loud  for  a  few  minutes  were  the  discharges  of  artillery, 
that  the  shells  bursting  over  the  charging  squadrons  were 
hardly  noticed,  and  the  smoking  carbines  of  the  sharp 
shooters,  who  lined  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river  and 
delivered  steady  volleys,  were  almost  inaudible. 

Straight  for  the  bridge  rode  the  men  of  the  Twelfth. 
Upon  reaching  it  at  full  speed,  the  front  ranks  of  the 
advance  company  being  more  than  midway  upon  it,  it  was 
discovered  that  the  plank  flooring  at  the  farther  end  had 
been  taken  up,  which  made  it  impassable.  Notwithstanding 
this  check,  under  the  steady  fire  of  the  enemy,  they  with 
drew  quickly  from  the  bridge,  and  dashing  into  the  river 
through  a  disused  ford  below,  were  so  quickly  among  and 
over  the  rifle-pits  that  the  astonished  Federals  were  driven 
out  and  captured  in  large  numbers. 

An  account  of  this  charge  led  by  Captain  Baylor  is  given 
in  his  "Bull  Run  to  Bull  Run,"  as  follows : 

"Pressing  on  to  the  river  at  Warrenton  Springs  we  found 
the  enemy  had  posted  his  artillery  on  an  eminence  beyond  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  189 

stream,  and  placed  dismounted  men  in  rifle-pits  near  the  banks 
of  the  river  to  contest  our  advance.  Dismounted  men  were 
thrown  forward  on  our  side  supported  by  a  small  force  of  our 
infantry. 

"The  horse  artillery  not  having  come  up,  General  Long  of 
Swell's  corps  opened  fire  with  eight  guns  on  the  enemy's  bat 
teries  and  supporting  squadrons.  At  this  juncture  General 
Stuart  ordered  me  to  charge  with  Company  B  across  the  river, 
and  drive  the  enemy  from  their  rifle-pits. 

"I  had  been  for  some  time  a  spectator  of  the  futile  efforts  of 
the  infantry  and  dismounted  men  to  effect  a  crossing,  and  to 
accomplish  this  with  a  cavalry  dash  struck  me  as  impracticable. 
But  a  soldier's  duty  is  to  obey,  do  or  die,  assured  that  a  bold 
front  is  half  the  battle.  *  *  *  Generals  Robert  E.  Lee, 
Ewell,  Stuart,  and  others  were  in  full  view  watching  the  move 
ment.  It  was  the  occasion  of  our  lives. 

"The  order  was  given,  and  down  the  road  the  company 
dashed  amid  a  shower  of  bullets,  and  reached  the  bridge  over 
the  river  to  find  the  flooring  torn  up.  Here  we  were  forced  to 
halt,  turn  about,  and  strike  for  a  ford  below.  This  movement 
was  effected  without  faltering,  and  soon  the  river  was  crossed, 
and  the  rifle-pits,  with  a  large  number  of  prisoners  in  our  pos 
session'.  The  rest  of  the  regiment  now  coming  to  our  aid,  the 
prisoners  were  secured  and  turned  over  to  the  infantry." 

General  Stuart,  in  his  official  report,  speaking  of  the  inci 
dent,  says : 

"This  little  band  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry  was 
worthy  of  special  praise  as  it  was  made  under  circumstances  of 
great  embarrassment.  Charging  first  up  to  the  pier  of  the 
bridge,  it  was  discovered  that  it  had  been  taken  up,  thus  expos 
ing  them  to  a  dangerous  fire  from  the  enemy  on  the  opposite 
side.  Nothing  daunted  in  purpose,  however,  they  turned  about 
and  took  the  road  to  the  ford  below,  which  they  plunged  into 
in  the  face  of  the  enemy's  fire  without  halt  or  hesitation." 


190  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Maj.  H.  B.  McClellan,  assistant  adjutant- general  of  the 
cavalry  corps  and  Stuart's  chief  of  staff,  who  was  present, 
thus  describes  the  charge  in  his  "Campaigns  of  Stuart  and 
His  Cavalry,"  page  386: 

"Now  the  Twelfth  Virginia  was  ordered  to  charge  the 
bridge.  Lieutenant  Baylor's  company  still  had  the  front. 
Darkness  was  settling  down  upon  the  field.  Along  a  narrow 
causeway  Baylor  lead  his  men  in  a  column  of  fours. 

"In  the  face  of  a  sharp  fire  from  the  rifle-pits,  he  reached 
the  very  abutment  of  the  bridge  before  he  discovered  that  the 
planks  had  been  removed  and  that  a  crossing  was  impossible. 
He  must  retrace  his  steps  and  try  the  ford.  There  was  no 
hesitation  nor  confusion.  'By  fours  right  about  wheel.  For 
ward  !'  And  in  a  moment  he  had  descended  from  the  causewa\ 
and  his  column  was  plunging  through  the  narrow  ford,  where 
hardly  four  could  ride  abreast.  It  was  a  gallant  sight,  and 
called  for  wild  huzzas  from  the  Confederate  infantry,  many  of 
whom  were  spectators  of  the  scene.  Up  the  hill  went  Baylor, 
and  in  a  few  moments  the  rifle-pits  were  cleared  of  the  enemy 
and  the  approaches  of  the  bridge  were  under  our  control." 

At  the  close  of  the  Bristoe  campaign,  as  it  was  called, 
this  company  was  the  recipient  of  a  unique  compliment 
from  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia.  It  was  an  order  from  General  Lee  through  Gen 
eral  Stuart,  that  a  furlough  of  ten  days  be  given  to  Com 
pany  B  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry  as  a  recognition  of 
their  gallant  conduct. 

Gregg  now  slowly  withdrew,  followed  by  Funsten, 
whose  command  bivouacked  that  night  near  Warrenton. 

"In  the  operations  of  this  day  the  Twelfth  Regiment  cap 
tured  between  275  and  300  prisoners,  and  the  Eleventh  150, 
with  their  horses,  arms  and  equipments.  The  casualties  in 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  191 

these  regiments  amounted  to  three  officers  killed  and 
wounded."7  Of  the  number  captured  by  the  Twelfth,  forty- 
seven  were  taken  on  the  road  while  moving  from  the 
Springs  to  Warrenton.  They  had  been  on  picket  at  points 
above  the  Springs,  and  while  falling  back  came  up  in  the 
rear  of  the  Twelfth,  which  they  mistook  in  the  darkness  for 
a  Federal  regiment,  and  so  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Con 
federates. 

On  the  1 3th  of  October  Stuart  made  a  reconnoissance 
towards  Catlett's  Station,  going  by  a  road  that  led  through 
the  village  of  Auburn  to  this  point.  Sending  General 
Lomax  in  advance  with  his  brigade,  he  followed  with  Fun- 
sten's  and  Gordon's  brigades,  taking  also  seven  pieces  of 
artillery  and  some  ordnance  wagons. 

General  Lomax,  upon  reaching  Auburn,  learned  that  a 
large  body  of  Federal  infantry  were  at  Warrenton  Junc 
tion,  distant  from  Auburn  about  four  miles.  He  at  once 
sent  word  to  Stuart,  and  halted  his  command. 

About  four  o'clock  P.  M.  Stuart  arrived  at  Auburn. 
Leaving  Lomax  there  to  guard  his  rear,  he  pushed  on  with 
Funsten's  and  Gordon's  brigades  towards  Catlett's  Station. 
When  within  two  miles  of  the  station  he  saw  large  bodies 
of  Federals  marching  along  the  railroad  eastward.  Halt 
ing  under  cover  of  a  piece  of  woods,  he  was  quietly  watch 
ing  the  movement  when  a  messenger  rode  up  post-haste  and 
informed  him  that  the  Federals  were  in  possession  of 
Auburn,  having  driven  off  Lomax.  In  point  of  fact  a 
whole  corps  of  the  enemy  was  falling  back  on  a  road  that 
led  eastward  through  Auburn,  and  Stuart  became  aware 
that  he  was  hemmed  in  between  the  moving  columns  of 


7Funsten's  Report. 


1 92  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Meade's  vast  army.  Hastily  retracing  his  steps  he  ap 
proached  Auburn,  seeking  some  way  of  escape.  Finding 
the  road  blocked  by  the  Federals  and  apprehensive  of  attack 
in  case  he  should  be  discovered,  Stuart  at  once  moved  his 
command  out  of  the  road  he  was  traveling  off  to  the  right 
into  a  narrow  valley  between  two  wooded  hills,  and  halted 
in  close  column  \vaiting  for  developments.  Soon  night  set 
in  and  the  hungry  and  tired  troops,  now  fully  aware  of  the 
situation,  with  eyes  and  ears  busy,  waited  and  wondered 
what  fate  had  in  store  for  them. 

The  enemy  was  marching  within  speaking  distance  of 
them,  and  as  they  plodded  along,  stopping  now  and  then 
to  build  fires  that  made  their  column  distinctly  visible,  they 
seemed  a  flowing  stream  of  armed  men. 

Stuart's  reason  for  staying  so  close  to  the  highway  was 
that  he  hoped  to  find  an  opportunity  for  breaking  through. 
But  hours  passed  and  the  Federal  stream  was  continuous. 
All  night  long  the  procession  of  artillery  and  infantry 
moved  on. 

While  thus  watching  it  was  of  supreme  importance  to 
conceal  his  presence  from  the  enemy.  Every  kind  of  noise 
was  forbidden.  The  men  spoke  in  whispers.  Sabres  were 
not  allowed  to  rattle  against  canteens,  and  guards  were  sta 
tioned  to  enforce  profound  silence.  Even  the  horses  seemed 
to  realize  the  necessity  of  being  quiet,  though  now  and  then 
a  hungry  mule  of  the  ordnance  teams  would  protest  with 
rising  voice  against  the  unpleasantness  of  the  situation, 
which  sound,  if  heard  by  the  Federals,  was  no  doubt  taken 
to  come  from  their  own  column. 

The  long  and  dreary  night  was  nearly  spent,  but  to  crush 
out  every  hope,  just  at  the  first  grey  streak  of  dawn  ap- 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  193 

peared,  right  close  in  front  a  body  of  Federal  infantry 
halted,  stacked  arms,  and  went  to  making  coffee.  There 
was  no  alternative  now  but  to  prepare  for  battle. 

During  the  night  Stuart  had  sent  six  messengers  to 
inform  General  Lee  of  his  position.  All  six  succeeded  in 
the  attempt  by  one  o'clock  at  night.  These  messengers 
were  six  privates,  who  volunteered  for  this  dangerous  serv 
ice,  which  required  that  they  should  go  in  and  through  the 
Federal  column.  Their  names  are  Robert  W.  Good,  First 
Virginia  Cavalry;  Ashton,  Chester,  and  Sharley  of  Mc 
Gregor's  Horse  Artillery;  and  Privates  Crocket  Eddins  and 
Richard  Baylor  of  Company  B,  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry. 
Had  they  been  caught  in  the  attempt  they  would  probably 
have  been  shot  as  spies. 

Believing  that  Lee  was  aware  of  his  perilous  situation, 
as  day  approached  Stuart  listened  anxiously  for  the  sound 
of  firearms  in  the  direction  of  Warrenton;  making,  how 
ever,  arrangements  if  no  aid  came,  by  a  bold  stroke  to  take 
care  of  himself. 

The  stars  were  already  fading  from  the  sky  when,  hear 
ing  the  welcome  sound  of  musketry  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Federal  column,  Stuart  opened  fire  on  the  enemy.  His 
seven  guns,  under  Major  Beckham,  had  been  posted  so  as 
to  be  barely  concealed  by  the  rising  crest  of  an  intervening 
hill.  At  the  word  of  command  they  were  quickly  advanced, 
and  with  simultaneous  roar  poured  canister  at  close  range 
into  the  Federal  masses  in  the  road.  The  Federals,  amazed 
at  the  sudden  and  close  assault,  were  at  first  panic-stricken 
and  ran  helter-skelter  in  every  direction,  but  rallied  by  the 
officers,  soon  fell  into  line.  With  bold  front  they  now 
advanced  and  assaulted  the  position  of  Stuart's  guns,  tak- 


194  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

ing  advantage  of  the  slope  of  the  hill  to  get  close  to  the 
guns  before  they  charged. 

Gordon's  brigade  remained  in  the  saddle,  while  Funsten's 
command  was  dismounted  and  posted  to  support  the  artil 
lery. 

Confident  in  numbers  the  Federals  pressed  forward,  but 
soon  recoiled  before  the  cannon  fire  and  the  volley  of  Fun 
sten's  dismounted  men. 

Renewing  the  attempt  with  increased  numbers  they  now 
approached  on  the  left  flank,  but  a  gallant  charge  made  by 
the  First  North  Carolina  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Ruffin, 
drove  them  back  in  confusion.  The  brave  Colonel  Ruffin 
was  killed  in  this  charge. 

In  the  meantime  the  firing  on  the  other  side  of  the  road 
had  ceased,  and  taking  advantage  of  the  check  afforded  by 
the  bold  dash  of  Ruffin's  regiment,  Stuart  pushed  forward 
and  crossed  the  road  with  all  his  command  without  losing 
"a  wheel."  He  now  retired  towards  Warrenton,  Funsten's 
brigade  bringing  up  the  rear,  and  striking  the  route  the 
enemy  had  lately  marched  captured  many  stragglers. 

On  the  morning  of  the  I5th  Stuart  pursued  the  retreating 
Federal  cavalry,  which  fell  back  upon  infantry  supports. 

At  Bull  Run  a  stand  was  made,  but,  dismounting  his 
men,  Stuart  attacked  en  masse  with  great  spirit  and  soon 
drove  the  foe  across  the  Bull  Run.  Hearing  that  a  wagon 
train  had  not  yet  crossed,  Stuart  attempted  to  capture  it. 
Finding  the  road  upon  which  it  moved  was  covered  by  a 
heavy  force  of  Federal  cavalry,  he  ordered  Gordon  to  at 
tack  it  in  front  while  he  detoured  with  Funsten's  brigade 
towards  their  right  flank 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  195 

After  a  very  circuitous  route  he  reached  at  dark  a  point 
only  a  short  distance  from  the  ground  where  Gordon  had 
been  engaging  the  enemy.  The  road  passed  through  a 
dense  thicket  of  pines  and  was  barricaded. 

The  Twelfth  Regiment  being  in  front,  Colonel  Massie 
commanding,  was  ordered  to  charge  the  barricades.  This 
was  gallantly  done,  and  the  enemy  was  driven  from  his 
strong  position  to  precipitate  flight. 


CHAPTER  VII 

October,  1863 

« 

A  new  commander — Sketch  of  Thomas  L.  Rosser — The  Buckland  races 
— Camp  at  Flint  Hill — At  Hamilton's  Crossing — Night  surprise  of 
a  Federal  camp — Dash  upon  Meade's  wagon  trains  in  the  Wilder 
ness — Back  to  Hamilton's  Crossing — Hard  fight  at  Parker's  Store 
— Watching  Meade — Raid  around  Meade's  army — Night  attack 
upon  Sangster's  Station  and  death  of  Captain  Cartmell — Brigade 
heads  for  the  Valley  and  crosses  the  Shenandoah — Joins  the  force 
of  Early  at  Mt.  Jackson — A  Merry  Christmas  in  the  Valley. 

While  halted  at  Manassas  the  brigade  received  a  new 
commander,  General  Thomas  L.  Rosser.  To  the  greater 
part  of  the  command  he  was  then  comparatively  a  stranger, 
although  known  to  many  through  report  as  a  daring  and 
successful  soldier. 

The  campaign  was  now  nearly  closed,  and  little  was  done 
before  the  men  returned  to  their  old  camp  at  Flint  Hill,  but 
that  little  disclosed  a  mettle  and  dash  in  the  new  chief  that 
reminded  the  men  of  the  days  of  Ashby. 

While  not  possessing  those  peculiar  qualities  of  Ashby, 
which  both  attracted  the  admiration  of  his  men  and  won 
and  cemented  their  individual  affections,  Rosser  in  personal 
appearance,  by  education  and  experience,  and  by  a  repu 
tation  for  courage  and  dash  already  acquired,  appealed  to 
their  soldierly  instincts.  Tall,  broad-shouldered  and  mus 
cular,  with  black  hair  and  moustache,  dark  brown  eyes, 
strong  jaw,  and  a  countenance  denoting  self-confidence,  a 
good  horseman  and  always  superbly  mounted,  the  men  of 


THOMAS    L.    ROSSER 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  197 

the  brigade  recognized  in  their  new  commander  the  typi 
cal  soldier,  and  transferred  their  loyalty  to  him. 

When  the  Southern  States  seceded  and  established  the 
Confederacy,  Rosser  was  a  cadet  at  the  West  Point  Uni 
ted  States  Military  Academy  from  Louisiana,  being  in 
April,  1861,  a  member  of  the  graduating  class.  The  de 
mand  for  officers  to  command  the  United  States  troops 
caused  the  Government  to  issue  an  order  declaring  his  class 
graduated  by  April  the  I3th,  and  the  members  of  that  class 
were  ordered  to  Washington. 

Rosser  at  once  determined  to  resign,  and  on  the  I3th  of 
April  he  and  several  other  Southern  men  of  his  class,  who 
afterwards  became  distinguished  soldiers  in  the  Confeder 
ate  Army,  resigned,  left  West  Point  and  started  southward. 

Meeting  with  various  interruptions,  which  caused  them 
to  take  unusual  and  circuitous  routes  to  the  new  "Land  of 
Dixie,"  they  at  length  reached  Montgomery,  Alabama,  and 
offered  their  services  to  the  Confederate  Government. 
Their  services  were  immediately  accepted  and  they  received 
commissions.  Rosser  was  made  a  first  lieutenant  of  Artil 
lery  and  ordered  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  on  re 
cruiting  service.  Eager  to  be  in  the  field  he  requested  per 
mission  to  attach  himself  to  the  staff  of  General  Holmes, 
and  shortly  afterwards  reached  Richmond,  where  in  time 
he  was  elected  captain  in  the  Washington  Artillery.  He 
participated  in  the  first  battle  of  Manassas,  but  only  reach 
ing  the  field  towards  the  close  of  the  fight,  he  joined  in  pur 
suit  of  the  enemy. 

After  that  battle,  he  was  assigned  to  Stuart's  command, 
and  first  served  on  outpost  duty  at  Munson's  Hill.  Going 
to  the  assistance  of  General  Robertson  at  Mechanicsville, 


198  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

he  participated  in  that  action  with  unusual  boldness  and 
vigor,  and  being  much  exposed  in  pressing  the  enemy,  he 
was  badly  wounded.  President  Davis  was  present,  wit 
nessed  the  fight,  and  promoted  Rosser,  on  the  field,  for 
gallantry,  and  he  received  the  commission  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  artillery  on  June  loth,  1862. 

On  the  20th  of  the  same  month  he  was  made  colonel  of 
cavalry  and  took  command  of  the  Fifth  Virginia  Cavalry. 

The  Fifth  Virginia  was  but  poorly  armed  when  Rosser 
took  command,  but  soon  supplied  itself  at  the  expense  of 
the  enemy  in  the  fight  at  Catlett's  Station,  in  which  it  took 
conspicuous  part. 

Here  also  an  incident  occurred  that  came  near  costing 
Rosser  his  life.  Some  Federal  infantry  had  been  captured, 
and  while  the  fight  was  going  on  Rosser  was  asked,  "What 
shall  we  do  with  the  prisoners?"  To  which  he  carelessly 
and,  not  meaning  it,  replied,  "Kill  them."  One  of  the  prison 
ers  heard  the  reply  and,  taking  him  in  earnest,  told  the 
others.  Immediately  they  revolted  and  began  to  fight  for 
their  lives  with  stones,  fence  rails,  and  whatever  came  to 
hand.  One  prisoner,  who  still  had  his  bayonet  in  the 
scabbard,  drawing  it  threw  himself  furiously  upon  Rosser, 
wounding  him  in  the  arm  and  stabbing  his  horse.  It  was 
not  until  the  mistake  was  explained  and  the  prisoners 
assured  of  protection  that  they  were  pacified. 

It  was  here  (Catlett's  Station)  that  Major  Von  Bourke, 
a  Prussian  soldier,  aide-de-camp  to  General  Stuart,  climbed 
a  telegraph  pole  and  cut  the  wire  with  his  sabre.  The  fact 
of  his  gigantic  size  and  bulk  is  what  is  remarkable  about 
the  incident. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  199 

During  the  following  week,  including  the  Second  Manas- 
sas  campaign,  Rosser  was  assigned  to  duties  that  required 
both  unusual  skill  and  audacity. 

On  the  30th  Rosser  was  ordered,  in  conjunction  with  a 
part  of  the  Ashby  brigade  and  some  artillery,  to  annoy  the 
flank  of  the  Federal  infantry. 

"This  was  done  with  splendid  effect,  Colonel  Rosser,  a 
fine  artillerist  as  well  as  a  bold  cavalier,  having  immediate 
direction  of  the  batteries."1  In  this  action  Rosser  com 
manded  all  the  artillery  in  Stuart's  command,  comprising 
Eshleman's  and  Richardson's  batteries  of  the  Washington 
artillery,  and  Stribbling's  and  Rogers'  batteries.  With 
these  he  directed  an  enfilading  fire  upon  the  Federal  flank, 
and  as  they  fell  back  he  pressed  his  advantage  with  so  much 
eagerness  that  his  batteries  were  at  one  time  half  a  mile  in 
advance  of  the  Confederate  line.  The  enemy,  seeing  their 
exposed  position,  attempted  by  a  desperate  charge  to  cap 
ture  Rogers'  battery,  which  was  the  most  advanced.  The 
battery,  however,  defended  itself  by  reserving  fire  until  the 
enemy  was  within  fifty  paces,  and  then  discharging 
deadly  volleys  of  canister  into  his  ranks. 

From  Manassas,  Rosser  with  his  regiment  accompanied 
Fitz  Lee  into  Maryland,  and  participated  in  the  Maryland 
campaign  of  1862. 

Here,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  Rosser  with  the  Fifth 
Virginia,  and  generally  accompanied  by  a  section  of  guns, 
had  serious  work  to  do. 

On  the  1 3th  of  September  the  Federals  pressed  eagerly 
forward  into  Boonesboro  Gap,  in  the  South  Mountain,  for 
the  purpose  of  raising  the  siege  of  Harper's  Ferry. 


1  Stuart's  Report. 


200  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Says  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  who  was  defending  the  Gap : 
"There  were  two  mountain  roads  practicable  for  artillery 
on  the  right  of  the  main  turnpike.  The  defense  of  the 
farther  one  had  cost  Garland  his  life.  It  was  now  entrusted 
to  Col.  Thomas  L.  Rosser  of  the  cavalry,  who  had  reported 
to  me  and  who  had  artillery  and  dismounted  sharpshooters. 
Rosser,  Anderson  and  Ripley  held  their  ground,  and  the 
Yankees  failed  to  gain  their  rear." 

After  Lee  withdrew  from  Pennsylvania  and  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia  again  resumed  its  positions  along  the 
Rappahannock,  Stuart  engaged  in  his  Dumfries  raid, — 
December  the  28th.  In  this  Rosser  took  a  leading  part. 

Says  Stuart,  speaking  of  the  passage  of  the  Occoquan : 
"General  Fitz  Lee  discovered  that  the  northern  bank  of  the 
stream  was  occupied  by  the  enemy's  dismounted  sharp 
shooters  in  force.  Without  waiting  to  exchange  shots  they 
were  gallantly  charged  by  files,  the  Fifth  Virginia,  under 
Colonel  Rosser,  leading  across  a  narrow,  rocky  and  difficult 
ford.  They  crossed  the  stream  and  captured  or  dispersed 
the  whole  party." 

Says  Fitz  Lee  in  his  report:  "The  charge  across  the 
narrow,  rocky  ford  of  the  Occoquan  by  file,  in  spite  of  the 
enemy's  sharpshooters  on  the  other  side,  was  one  of  the 
most  admirable  performances  of  cavalry  I  have  ever  wit 
nessed,  and  great  praise  is  due  to  Colonel  Rosser  in  this 
connection." 

With  this  well-earned  reputation  General  Rosser  took 
command  of  the  brigade,  a  body  of  soldiers  whose  reputa 
tion  under  Ashby,  Munford,  and  Jones  was  not  second  to 
that  of  their  new  commander. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  201 

When  the  head  of  Stuart's  column  had  nearly  reached 
Bull  Run,  the  further  bank  of  which  was  held  by  the  enemy, 
Rosser  was  ordered  to  seize  McLean's  ford.  A  body  of 
the  enemy's  infantry  was  holding  it,  being  strongly  posted 
on  some  high  ground  beyond,  and  supported  by  artillery. 

With  his  men  dismounted  and  deployed  as  skirmishers, 
Rosser  advanced  under  a  heavy  fire  and  took  possession  of 
both  sides  of  the  ford. 

The  enemy  on  the  high  ground  remained  in  position  and 
kept  up  such  a  galling  fusillade  that  the  Confederates  were 
forced  to  shelter  themselves  under  the  banks  of  the  creek, 
from  behind  which  they  replied  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 

Night  was  now  drawing  near,  and  although  Rosser  was 
ordered  by  Stuart  to  fall  back,  he  wanted  to  retreat  under 
the  cover  of  darkness. 

The  enemy  was  on  the  alert,  and  it  was  hazardous  to 
leave  the  friendly  shelter  of  the  bank.  At  a  preconcerted 
signal  the  men  raised  a  yell  as  if  about  to  charge,  and  then 
retreated  rapidly.  The  ruse  was  discovered  by  the  Federals, 
who  at  once  pursued. 

The  horses  of  the  brigade  had  been  brought  near  the 
creek,  and  in  mounting  under  fire  some  confusion  occurred. 
But  in  crossing  the  run  the  Federals  also  were  thrown  into 
some  disorder,  and  Rosser  taking  advantage  of  this,  with  a 
portion  of  his  men  held  them  in  check,  until  aided  by  Stu 
art  in  successfully  withdrawing. 

Lee  was  already  falling  back,  while  Meade  remained 
near  Bull  Run;  but  the  cavalry  under  Stuart  which  fol 
lowed  Lee  was  pressed  by  the  Federal  horse. 

Early  on  the  iQth  Hampton's  division,  to  which  Rosser's 
brigade  then  belonged,  was  engaged  in  preventing  Kilpat- 


2O2  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

rick's  division  from  crossing  Broad  Run  at  Buckland,  on 
the  Warrenton  turnpike. 

At  the  same  time  Fitz  Lee  was  retiring  with  his  division 
on  a  line  parallel  to  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad. 
At  the  suggestion  of  Fitz  Lee,  Stuart,  who  was  in  com 
mand  of  Hampton's  division,  withdrew  before  Kilpatrick 
for  the  purpose  of  enticing  him  to  follow  upon  the  turn 
pike,  so  that  Fitz  Lee  could  fall  upon  his  rear. 

Kilpatrick  fell  into  the  ruse,  but  with  his  usual  caution 
left  Custer's  brigade  to  hold  the  ford,  while  he  with  the 
rest  of  his  division  followed  Stuart  within  three  miles  of 
Warrenton.  Here  the  sound  of  Lee's  guns  reached  Stuart, 
and  he  turned  upon  the  Federals.  After  some  resistance 
they  broke  and  fled  down  the  turnpike,  hotly  pursued  five 
miles. 

Custer  held  the  ford  at  Buckland  against  Fitz  Lee,  until 
most  of  Kilpatrick's  men  escaped  through  the  woods,  and 
then  withdrew  with  his  artillery. 

The  Federal  loss  was  about  250  prisoners  and  a  few 
wagons  and  ambulances.  The  pluck  of  Custer  and  the 
fast  riding  of  Kilpatrick  had  prevented  a  much  more  seri 
ous  disaster. 

This  incident  has  always  been  known  by  the  cavalry 
as  the  "Buckland  Races,"  it  being  more  of  a  chase  than  a 
fight. 

General  Stuart,  in  his  official  report  of  it,  says:  "The 
force  opposed  to  us  on  this  occasion  consisted  of  ten  regi 
ments  of  cavalry  and  six  pieces  of  artillery  commanded  by 
General  Kilpatrick,  and  I  am  gratified  in  declaring  the  rout 
of  the  enemy  at  Buckland,  the  most  signal  and  complete 
that  any  cavalry  has  suffered  during  the  war.  It  is  remark- 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  203 

able  that  Kilpatrick's  division  seemed  to  disappear  from  the 
field  for  more  than  a  month,  that  time  being  necessary  no 
doubt  to  collect  the  panic-stricken  fugitives." 

After  their  experience  at  Buckland,  the  Federal  cavalry 
followed  the  Confederates  in  their  withdrawal  at  a  respect 
ful  distance,  and  the  old  positions  on  the  Rappahannock 
and  Rapidan  were  resumed. 

At  Flint  Hill,  in  Rappahannock  county,  the  brigade 
took  a  short  rest,  which  was  much  needed  and  much  en 
joyed.  Provender  was  abundant,  the  orchards  full  of 
delicious  fruit,  and  the  rich  autumnal  grasses  supplied  an 
abundance  of  milk  and  butter  which  the  hospitable  farmers 
of  the  county  dispensed  to  the  soldiers.  The  merry-mak 
ings  were  numerous  but  soon  over.  In  a  short  time  the 
command  was  ordered  to  break  camp,  and  return  again  to 
Hamilton's  crossing,  about  eight  miles  above  Fredericks- 
burg.  Here  for  several  weeks  it  was  engaged  in  picketing 
the  fords  from  Germania  to  Fredericksburg. 

On  the  /th  of  November  the  Federal  army  forced  a  pas 
sage  across  the  Rappahannock  at  Kelly's  Ford  and  the  rail 
road  bridge,  and  resumed  its  old  position  near  Culpeper 
Court  House. 

General  Lee  now  retired  beyond  the  Rapidan,  and  pre 
pared  to  go  into  winter  quarters. 

On  the  1 7th  of  November,  Hampton  ordered  Rosser 
with  his  brigade  to  Chancellorsville.  Before  sundown  Ros 
ser  was  on  hand  with  his  troops,  who  were  joyous  at  the 
prospect  of  some  relief  from  the  monotony  of  drill  and 
picket. 

After  a  few  hours'  rest,  they  set  out  in  the  night  and 
marched  towards  Stephensburg,  where  a  Federal  regiment 


2O4  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

was  stationed.  Near  daybreak  they  found  the  enemy  and 
charged  his  camp.  The  darkness  and  the  sudden  attack 
made  victory  easy.  The  Federals  fled  and  scattered,  leav 
ing  about  sixty  prisoners,  many  horses  and  the  camp 
equipage  in  the  hands  of  the  Confederates.  Hampton's 
loss  was  one  man  killed  and  two  wounded.  After  load 
ing  the  captured  wagons,  he  retired  with  deliberation,  and 
recrossed  the  river  unmolested. 

The  brigade  now  again  returned  to  Hamilton's  Crossing 
and  resumed  the  monotonous  duty  of  picketing  the  fords, 
though  somewhat  consoled  by  their  share  in  the  recent 
spoils  of  war. 

Scarcely  had  they  gotten  comfortably  fixed  in  quarters, 
when  the  news  of  a  general  advance  of  the  Federals  re 
called  them  to  the  saddle. 

To  the  surprise  of  the  Confederates,  Meade  had  on  the 
26th  crossed  the  fateful  river,  and  the  next  day  with  his 
whole  army  was  marching  up  the  Plank  Road  towards 
Orange  Court  House. 

Rosser,  upon  the  first  report  of  his  scouts,  moved  his 
brigade  to  Todd's  Tavern  as  a  good  point  of  observation, 
and  sought  opportunity  to  annoy  the  enemy's  marching 
column.  He  did  not  have  long  to  wait,  for  on  the  27th 
he  learned  that  the  Federals  were  moving  up  the  Plank 
Road,  and  that  they  had  neglected  to  picket  the  Brock 
Road,  that  crossed  Meade's  line  of  march,  and  led  to 
Todd's  Tavern.  The  tract,  through  which  Meade  was 
marching,  was  what  is  known  as  the  "Wilderness."  It  was 
an  almost  uninhabited  expanse  of  country,  rendered  so  by 
the  extreme  poverty  of  the  soil,  and  was  covered  with 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  205 

stunted  trees  and  an  almost  impenetrable  growth  of 
underbrush. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2/th,  with  ranks  closed  up  as 
much  as  the  narrow  road  permitted,  Rosser  moved  with 
caution  towards  the  Plank  Road. 

Soon  the  rattle  of  the  Federal  wagon  trains  was  heard, 
and  upon  a  nearer  approach,  the  confused  hum  of  a  march 
ing  army. 

The  advance  guard  now  rode  silently  forward,  the  very 
horses  seeming  to  step  softly,  and  at  a  given  signal  from 
Rosser  dashed  into  the  Plank  Road,  followed  by  the  main 
body.  In  an  instant  the  wagon  first  passing  was  turned 
into  the  Brock  Road.  Those  behind  it  were  made  to  follow, 
and  soon  more  than  a  dozen  came  thundering  along  with 
mules  under  whip  and  sabre  down  the  narrow  road 
towards  Todd's  Tavern. 

In  the  meantime  the  hubbub  at  the  crossing,  and  the 
sight  of  the  charging  Confederates,  stampeded  the  teams 
that  had  gotten  by,  while  those  coming  on,  were  abandoned 
by  their  drivers  or  \vheeled  around  in  an  attempt  to  escape 
capture.  Some  were  upset,  others  colliding  with  the  rear 
ones  became  hopelessly  entangled.  The  shouts  of  the  terror- 
stricken  teamsters,  the  frantic  efforts  of  the  mules  to  free 
themselves,  mingling  with  the  noise  of  the  combat,  made 
c  scene  of  indescribable  confusion. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  contest  was  over.  From  both  direc 
tions  the  Federal  infantry  advanced  to  save  their  trains, 
which  were  being  snatched  from  the  very  midst  of  the  army. 
Exposed  to  a  fire  from  opposite  quarters,  the  Confederates 
beat  a  hasty  retreat,  and  disappeared  in  the  Wilderness. 
Not  a  few  wagons  had  been  broken  or  destroyed  on  the 


206  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Plank  Road,  the  mules  being  cut  loose  and  brought  out. 
Of  those  driven  off  towards  Todd's  Tavern,  some  were 
burned  for  fear  of  recapture,  after  being  rifled  of  their 
valuable  contents  by  the  troopers.  But  the  net  result  of 
the  enterprise  was  a  goodly  number  of  mules  and  wagons 
and  twenty  prisoners  captured,  with  the  loss  of  only  one 
man. 

Rosser,  after  securing  his  prisoners,  moved  along  a  road 
parallel  to  the  Plank  Road,  bivouacking  that  night,  in  spite 
of  a  drizzling  rain,  almost  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  camp- 
fires.  The  next  day  he  rejoined  the  main  body  of  the 
cavalry. 

On  the  following  day  Stuart,  with  Hampton's  division, 
made  a  reconnoissance  around  the  enemy's  letft,  having 
Rosser's  brigade  in  front. 

The  road  through  the  dense  forest  was  muddy,  narrow, 
and  rough,  and  the  column  in  marching  was  often  broken 
into  single  files. 

Running  across  the  line  of  march,  was  an  abandoned 
railroad  bed  which  was  nearly  parallel  with  the  Plank 
Road,  and  distant  from  it  a  few  hundred  yards.  Just 
beyond  it,  at  Parker's  Store,  was  stationed  a  Federal  camp, 
and  in  the  roadbed  was  a  Federal  picket.  The  advance 
guard,  Company  A  of  the  Seventh,  under  Captain  Hatcher, 
upon  discovering  the  Federal  picket,  charged  and  pursued 
it,  the  brigade  following  closely,  with  the  Seventh  Regi 
ment  in  front.  Soon  the  camp  of  the  enemy  near  the  road 
on  the  right  came  in  view,  and  Rosser  ordered  a  charge, 
himself  leading  it.  But  Hatcher  had  pressed  in  hot  pur 
suit  of  the  picket,  and  the  rest  of  the  Seventh,  except  a  few 
of  the  front  files,  was  some  distance  behind,  and  the  entire 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  207 

brigade  was  strung  out  in  the  narrow  road  on  which  it  was 
advancing,  fully  a  mile  in  length.  So  the  action  was  com 
menced  without  formation,  the  men  engaging  in  the  fight 
as  they  came  upon  the  firing  line.  The  enemy  poured  a 
volley  into  these  few  and  for  a  brief  space  kept  them  at  bay. 
But  the  column  soon  closed  up  and  the  camp  was  charged 
and  taken  wdth  many  prisoners. 

The  \voods  was  full  of  tempting  articles  of  plunder, 
among  which  were  savory  breakfasts  which  had  been  has 
tily  abandoned.  The  cold  and  hungry  Confederates 
yielded  to  the  temptation,  and  many  broke  ranks  to  gather 
the  spoils  of  victory.  In  the  meantime  the  enemy,  heavily 
reinforced  with  a  heavy  line  of  skirmishers  on  the  flanks, 
made  a  vigorous  effort  to  recover  the  field.  For  full  two 
hours  a  fierce  struggle  raged,  each  side  refusing  to  yield. 
The  action  was  chiefly  between  dismounted  men,  the  dense 
forest  growth  preventing  in  large  degree  the  advantageous 
movement  of  mounted  squadrons.  In  the  road,  however, 
there  \vas  frequent  charging  of  mounted  men  with  vary 
ing  fortune. 

At  last,  with  portions  of  all  the  regiments  of  the  brigade, 
a  charge  was  made  down  the  Plank  Road  that  proved 
resistless.  The  Federals,  though  pressed  with  sabre  and 
pistol,  stood  manfully  a  while,  then  turned  and  fled,  pur 
sued  with  fury  by  the  Confederates.  For  several  miles  the 
pursuit  continued,  the  Federals  losing  heavily  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners. 

The  line  of  dismounted  men  disappeared  before  Rosser's 
front  after  the  rout  of  the  Federal  horse.  Remaining  for 


208  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

a  short  time  in  possession  of  the  field,  Rosser  at  length 
withdrew  with  his  captures.2 

The  next  day  at  dawn  all  were  in  the  saddle,  confident 
that  Meade  would  attack  Lee's  lines ;  but  they  were  disap 
pointed.  Meade  had  come  to  Mine  Run  to  go  into  winter 
quarters,  and  it  did  not  seem  likely  that  after  crossing  the 
Rappahannock  he  would  fear  to  cross  Mine  Run.  Another 
night  of  anxious  expectation  followed,  such  as  generally 
precedes  a  great  battle.  At  dawn,  however,  the  reveille  of 
the  enemy  was  not  to  be  heard,  and  it  was  soon  learned 
that  Meade  had  made  off  during  the  night. 

After  following  Meade  to  the  banks  of  the  Rappahan 
nock,  the  brigade  retraced  its  steps  and  on  the  5th  of 
December  resumed  its  old  position  at  Hamilton's  Crossing. 
The  vicinity  of  the  camp  was  almost  an  uninhabited  waste. 
So  bare  had  it  been  swept  by  the  waves  of  war,  that  a  few 
persimmons  was  all  that  rewarded  the  most  industrious 
flanker.  Forage  was  scanty,  rations  meagre,  and  the 
troops  exposed  in  shelter  tents,  yearned  for  the  full  barns 
and  plenteous  tables  of  the  Valley.  Not  a  few  took  solace 
in  the  "starvation  parties"  given  by  the  hospitable  citizens 
of  Fredericksburg,  where  the  charms  of  wit  and  beauty 
banished  remembrance  of  their  discomforts  in  camp ;  but 
the  most  lived  in  hope  that  some  lucky  chance  would 
remove  them  to  the  banks  of  the  Shenandoah.  Sooner 
than  they  thought  the  hope  was  realized. 

On  the  evening  of  December  the  i6th,  the  brigade  set 
out  on  what  is  known  as  the  Sangster  Station  raid,  an  expe 
dition  attended  not  only  with  some  hard  fighting  but  with 


2The  casualties  among  the  men  of  "The  Laurel"  in  this  fight  were 
considerable.  Among  the  killed  was  Richard  Baylor  of  Company  B, 
Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry,  a  private  distinguished  for  his  gallantry. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  209 

a  great  deal  of  suffering,  the  horrors  of  which  made  a  last 
ing  impression  upon  every  soldier  who  participated  in  it. 
General  Lee  having  heard  that  one  or  two  regiments  of 
Federal  cavalry  were  moving  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
from  Winchester  towards  Staunton,  directed  Rosser  to 
cross  the  Shenandoah  in  the  rear  of  this  force  and  prevent 
its  escape.  Accordingly  on  the  i6th  of  December  Rosser 
with  his  command  marched  to  Fredericksburg,  where  he 
waited  until  low  tide,  and  then  crossed  the  Rappahannock 
about  twilight.  The  fording  was  deep  and  some  of  the 
men  had  to  swim  their  horses. 

For  the  first  three  or  four  miles  the  road  led  through  the 
old  camping-ground  of  Burnside's  army.  The  prospect, 
indistinct  in  the  gloaming,  recalled  the  fate  of  that  mighty 
multitude,  and  the  deserted  cabins,  many  of  whose  last 
inmates  lay  buried  near,  were  silent  witnesses  of  the  hor 
rors  of  war.  The  road  now  led  through  a  barren  waste.  It 
was  rough  and  narrow,  but  the  troopers  were  homeward 
bound,  and  for  a  few  hours  before  drowsiness  set  in,  moved 
on  right  merrily. 

Soon  the  camp-fires  of  Meade's  army  were  seen  on  their 
left,  and  they  could  not  for  a  moment  forget  that  they  were 
within  the  enemy's  line.  About  midnight  the  column 
halted  and  rested  until  morning,  when  the  march  was 
resumed.  Rain  now  set  in,  at  first  a  drizzle  and  then  a 
downpour,  drenching  the  men,  swelling  the  streams,  and 
making  the  roads  sloppy  and  muddy.  Rosser,  being  appre 
hensive,  lest  some  of  the  streams  ahead  of  him  would  rise 
so  high  as  to  impede  his  march,  now  moved  faster. 

All  day  long  through  the  continuous  rain,  the  men,  wet 
to  the  skin,  pushed  on  through  mud  and  mire.  Three  days' 


2io  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

rations  had  been  cooked  before  starting,  but  these  were 
now  nearly  consumed,  and  the  improvident  ones  had  quite 
exhausted  their  haversacks. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  was  in  front,  followed  succes 
sively  by  the  Twelfth,  Eleventh,  and  White's  Battalion. 
Towards  night  the  order  came  to  close  up  at  a  trot.  Night 
had  already  set  in  when  the  Occoquan  was  reached.  It  was 
found  to  be  rising  rapidly,  but  a  passable  ford  was  found 
at  Wolf  Run  Shoals. 

Up  to  this  time  Rosser,  in  his  anxiety  to  cross  the  rail 
road  without  delay,  and  to  hurry  on  to  the  Shenandoah 
before  the  rain  had  swollen  it  past  fording,  procured  a 
guide  who  could  take  him  through  the  country  along  by 
roads,  so  as  to  avoid  the  enemy's  outposts. 

The  darkness  and  rain  now  made  him  change  his  plan, 
and  he  moved  more  rapidly,  following  the  road  that  led  to 
Sangster's  Station,  where  he  knew  the  enemy  had  a  force 
guarding  the  railroad  bridge. 

Upon  Hearing  this  point,  he  came  to  the  bank  of  a  small 
stream  which  was  rising  rapidly,  and  evidently  very  deep. 
Loud  bursts  of  thunder  now  accompanied  the  rain,  and  the 
bright  flashes  of  lightning  lifted  for  a  moment  the  thick 
veil  of  darkness  from  surrounding  objects.  Beyond  the 
angry-looking  stream,  right  across  the  path  of  his  advance, 
was  a  stockade  fort,  whose  garrison  had  already  discovered 
him. 

A  challenge  and  a  shot  from  the  sentinel  on  duty,  re 
minded  him  that  there  was  no  time  to  examine  the  ford. 

The  Seventh  Regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  R.  H. 
Dulany,  was  ordered  to  cross  and  attack.  The  First  Squad 
ron,  under  Captain  Hatcher,  Company  A,  gallantly 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  211 

responded,  and  plunging  across  the  stream  dashed  at  the 
stockade. 

Up  and  around  it  they  went,  crossing  the  railroad,  the 
heavy  force  in  the  breastworks  preventing  their  return. 
The  rest  of  the  Seventh,  blinded  by  the  darkness,  passed 
down  the  stream  without  crossing  it. 

The  Eleventh  Regiment,  commanded  by  Lieut-Col.  M. 
Beal,  was  now  ordered  to  charge.  Rosser's  stirring  appeal 
to  the  men  was  answered  with  a  loud  cheer.  Forming  in 
close  column,  they  moved  steadily  across  the  roaring  creek, 
guided  by  the  lightning  flashes  and  the  bursts  of  flame  that 
came  from  the  foe's  receiving  volleys. 

"Although  by  this  time,  the  enemy  was  thoroughly 
aroused,  and  was  pouring  sheet  after  sheet  of  fire  into  the 
head  of  Beal's  column,  the  gallant  old  regiment  went  cheer 
ing  through  water,  and  in  a  moment  was  up  the  hill  on  the 
other  side — and  the  stockade  was  ours."3 

The  brave  Captain  Cartmell  of  Company  B  was  at  the 
head  of  the  First  Squadron,  and  was  instantly  killed.  Sev 
eral  others  were  wounded,  some  mortally,  though  most  of 
the  garrison,  under  cover  of  darkness,  escaped. 

Among  the  captures  was  a  silver  bugle  and  the  flag  of 
the  one  Hundred  and  Sixty-fourth  New  York,  a  part  of 
which  regiment  had  occupied  the  fort.  The  bugle  was  pre 
sented  to  Hatcher's  squadron,  and  the  flag,  through  Colo 
nel  Beal  and  the  Eleventh,  to  the  Virginia  Military  Insti 
tute.  Afterwards,  in  1883,  when  peace  and  mutual  good 
will  had  returned,  the  flag,  which  was  very  beautiful,  was 
presented,  through  the  corps  of  cadets,  to  the  Mayor  of 
New  York,  and  by  him  returned  to  its  old  regiment. 


3Rosser. 


212  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

After  attending  to  his  wounded  and  dead,  Rosser  moved 
on  through  the  rain  and  darkness  towards  Upperville. 
Men  and  horses  were  well  nigh  exhausted,  but  the  enemy 
was  now  certainly  in  the  saddle  in  hot  pursuit,  and  no  rest 
could  be  taken. 

All  night  the  drenching  rain  continued.  Towards  morn 
ing  it  began  to  turn  cold,  and  the  falling  drops,  turning  to 
sleet,  increased  the  tortures  of  drowsiness  and  extreme 
fatigue.  The  horses,  jaded  and  hungry,  staggered  through 
the  mud,  now  stiffened  with  cold,  while  the  men  with  gar 
ments  frozen,  bodies  benumbed,  and  faculties  almost  palsied 
with  distress,  half  unconscious,  kept  their  places  in  the 
laboring  column. 

At  sunrise  Upperville  was  reached,  and  a  halt  was  made 
to  have  breakfast  and  to  feed  the  horses.  Here  some  of  the 
men  had  to  be  lifted  from  their  horses,  being  stiff  with  cold 
and  their  clothing  frozen  to  the  saddles. 

After  an  hour's  respite  the  weary  march  was  resumed. 
The  rain  had  now  ceased,  and  the  clouds  lifting,  the  wel 
come  sight  of  the  Blue  Ridge  cheered  the  hearts  of  the  half- 
frozen  troopers. 

In  a  few  hours  they  had  crossed  through  Ashby's  Gap  and 
were  once  more  upon  the  banks  of  the  Shenandoah.  The 
swollen,  angry  river  barred  their  passage,  and  across  its 
turbid  waters  lay  the  promised  land,  which,  in  spite  of  the 
terrible  march,  they  had  come  too  late  to  enter. 

Rosser  knew  that  the  enemy  was  close  upon  his  heels, 
and  was  apprehensive  lest  taking  advantage  of  the  swollen 
condition  of  the  river,  he  would  also  endeavor  to  intercept 
him  at  Front  Royal  or  Luray. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  213 

He  had  no  choice  but  to  move  up  the  right  bank  until  he 
found  a  practicable  crossing.  Again  the  weary  column 
moved  forward,  picking  its  way  over  the  rough  and  narrow 
road  that  winds  along  between  the  river  and  the  mountain, 
now  in  worse  condition  by  reason  of  the  recent  torrents. 

At  last  when  Front  Royal  \vas  reached  there  was  a  halt, 
and  the  men  went  into  camp  for  the  first  time  in  forty- 
eight  hours,  having  marched  in  thirty-six  hours  more  than 
ninety  miles. 

Next  morning  Rosser  pushed  on,  and  arrived  at  Luray  a 
few  hours  before  a  division  of  Federals  had  passed  through 
Thorton's  Gap  in  his  rear. 

The  river  was  still  very  high,  but  a  crossing  was  effected 
with  some  difficulty  at  Conrad's  Store,  and  on  the  2Oth  of 
December  the  brigade  reached  the  army  of  General  Early 
in  the  Valley. 

It  was  now  learned  that  the  raiding  party  which  Rosser 
had  started  out  to  capture,  had  returned  to  Winchester,  and 
the  brigade  was  permitted  to  go  into  camp  and  take  a  rest. 

After  such  a  tiresome  march,  the  week's  holiday  which 
followed  was  much  enjoyed.  The  horses  were  shod,  and 
their  strength  recruited  on  the  abundant  forage  of  the 
Valley. 

It  was  Christmas  time  too,  and  in  spite  of  the  ruin 
wrought  by  war,  thanks  to  careful  housewives,  many  good 
things  remained.  The  half-starved  troopers  made  the  best 
of  their  opportunity,  and  gladly  banishing  thoughts  of 
"grim-visaged  war,"  yielded  themselves  to  the  cheerful  fes 
tivities  of  Christmas  time.  If  turkeys  were  hard  to  get,  the 
savory  sausage  of  the  forehanded  farmers  was  accepted  as 


214  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

a  fair  substitute,  and  the  apple,  peach,  and  pumpkin  pies, 
rye  coffee,  and  sorghum  molasses,  galore,  made  one  think 
that  plenty,  if  not  peace,  had  again  returned  to  the  land. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

January,   1864 

Rosser  with  Fitz  Lee — They  make  midwinter  raid  to  capture  cattle  for 
Lee's  army — March  down  the  Patterson  Creek  Valley — Capture  a 
Federal  wagon  train — Move  towards  New  Creek — Return  to  Early 
in  the  Valley — Fitz  Lee  with  his  division  returns  to  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia — Early  and  Rosser  make  the  Petersburg  raid 
— Returning,  the  Laurel  Brigade  camps  at  Weyer's  Cave — Rest  and 
hilarity — Across  the  Blue  Ridge  to  catch  Kilpatrick — Return  to 
Valley — The  camp  in  Rockbridge  county — Recruiting — Grant 
moves  his  multitudes — A  call  from  Lee — The  Laurel  joins  Lee  in 
the  Wilderness— The  5th  and  6th  of  May— Join  Hampton  at 
Shady  Grove — Yellow  Tavern — Death  of  Stuart. 

The  cavalry  being  not  only  the  eyes  and  ears  of  the  army, 
but  also  foragers  for  it,  it  was  not  in  the  nature  of  things 
that  Fitz  Lee's  force,  being  now  augmented  by  the  arrival 
of  Rosser's  brigade,  could  long  remain  idle  in  camp.  An 
expedition  west  of  the  mountains  was  ordered  by  Early  to 
secure  cattle  for  the  use  of  Lee's  army,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  capture  detached  bodies  of  the  enemy  and  do  such 
damage  to  his  communications  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  as  might  be  found  practicable. 

The  expedition  under  General  Fitz  Lee  started  in  the  lat 
ter  days  of  December.  The  citizens  of  the  Moorefield  and 
South  Branch  valleys  were  loyal,  with  few  exceptions,  to 
the  Confederacy,  and  most  of  them  zealous  in  its  cause, 
and  had  consequently  suffered,  both  in  their  persons  and 
substance,  from  the  frequent  predatory  visits  of  the  Fed 
erals. 


216  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

When  it  was  known  that  the  expedition  was  made  for 
the  purpose  of  procuring  beef  for  Lee's  army,  it  was  not 
long  before  droves  of  well-fed  steers  were  on  their  way  to 
"Dixie." 

Upon  arriving  at  Moorefield,  Fitz  Lee  learned  that  a 
Federal  force,  eight  or  nine  hundred  strong,  was  at  Peters 
burg  and  strongly  fortified  behind  entrenchments  and 
abattis.  For  the  want  of  artillery  and  because  much  of 
the  small-arms  ammunition  had  been  ruined  in  the  storm, 
he  decided  not  to  attack  Petersburg,  but  to  move  upon  the 
enemy's  line  of  communication  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad. 

On  the  morning  of  January  the  2nd,  he  marched  down 
the  South  Branch,  and  began  to  cross  the  Branch  Mountain 
at  Mills  Gap.  Rosser's  brigade  led  the  advance,  with  the 
Eleventh  Virginia  in  front,  followed  by  the  Seventh. 

Upon  nearing  the  top  of  the  mountain,  the  road  was 
found  to  be  blockaded  with  fallen  trees,  and  a  way  had  to 
be  opened  by  axemen.  While  engaged  in  this,  scouts 
reported  that  a  Federal  wagon  train,  moving  in  the  direc 
tion  of  New  Creek,  was  approaching  the  point  where  the 
road  on  which  Rosser  was  marching  forked  with  the 
Petersburg  and  New  Creek  road. 

Rosser  at  once  hurried  up  his  foremost  regiments,  and 
the  men  at  many  places  leaped  their  horses  over  the  fallen 
trees  in  their  eagerness  to  get  to  the  front. 

After  passing  the  top  of  the  gap  and  rounding  a  curve 
in  the  road,  they  came  in  sight  of  the  train,  which  was 
moving  slowly  and  in  careless  security,  attended  by  a  small 
guard  of  soldiers.  There  were  about  forty  wagons,  six 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  217 

mules  to  each,  loaded,  as  was  afterwards  found,  with 
ammunition,  hides,  and  sutlers'  stores. 

Rosser  ordered  the  Eleventh,  commanded  by  Maj.  E.  H. 
McDonald,  to  charge  the  train,  and  the  Seventh,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Dulany,  to  follow  closely  in  support. 
The  column  emerged  from  cover  of  the  woods,  and  with 
loud  shouts  galloped  down  the  mountainside.  The  train 
quickened  its  snail-like  pace  into  a  run,  and  then  rushed 
along  at  a  furious  speed.  In  their  eagerness  to  escape,  the 
faster  teams  tried  to  pass  the  slower  ones,  and  then  fol 
lowed  upsets  and  collisions,  mules  entangled,  kicking  to  free 
themselves  from  harness,  and  great  confusion.  It  seemed 
at  first  an  easy  capture,  the  guard  in  sight  making  off  to 
the  woods.  But  as  the  train  halted,  about  seventy-five 
infantrymen  leaped  out  of  the  wagons,  and  running  up  the 
hillside  beyond  the  road,  began  to  fire  upon  the  nearest 
horsemen.  They  were  soon  charged  by  a  small  portion  of 
the  Eleventh,  under  Major  McDonald,  and  most  of  them 
compelled  to  surrender.  Among  the  captured  sutlers' 
stores  were  canned  goods  of  every  description,  which  were 
much  enjoyed  by  the  victors. 

Fitz  Lee  now  moved  down  Patterson's  Creek  with  fora 
gers  on  the  flanks  gathering  cattle  and  sheep.  At  Burling 
ton  more  sutlers'  stores  were  captured,  and  a  blockhouse 
abandoned  by  the  enemy  was  destroyed. 

After  a  short  delay  at  Burlington  the  column  moved  on 
to  Ridgeville  and  pitched  camp.  This  place  was  six  miles 
from  New  Creek,  against  which  Fitz  Lee  intended  to 
advance  the  following  day.  But  a  severe  snowstorm  set  in 
during  the  night,  and  next  morning  Fitz  Lee  withdrew  and 
returned  to  the  Valley,  going  by  way  of  Romney  and 


218  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Brock's  Gap  to  Harrisonburg.  He  took  back  with  him 
400  cattle  and  no  prisoners. 

Very  soon  after  his  return  Fitz  Lee  with  his  command 
rejoined  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  Rosser's  brigade, 
however,  remained  with  Early,  then  in  command  of  the 
Valley  district. 

After  a  short  rest  the  brigade  participated  in  another  cat 
tle  expedition  across  the  mountain  that  proved  quite  suc 
cessful,  and  the  fruitful  results  of  which  were  due  in  a 
great  measure  to  Rosser's  skillful  handling  of  his  com 
mand. 

On  January  28th,  1864,  General  Early,  with  Rosser's 
brigade,  Thomas'  brigade  of  infantry,  all  the  effective  men 
of  Gilmore's  and  McNeil's  Partisan  Rangers,  and  four 
pieces  of  McClannahan's  Battery,  moved  from  New 
Market  to  Moorefield. 

On  the  29th  Rosser,  with  the  cavalry  and  artillery,  ac 
companied  by  Early,  reached  Moorefield  somewhat  in 
advance  of  the  infantry.  Scouts  having  reported  that  a 
large  train  was  on  its  way  from  New  Creek  to  Petersburg, 
Rosser  was  ordered  to  cross  over  the  Branch  Mountain 
and  capture  it. 

Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  3Oth,  he  marched 
from  Moorefield,  having  besides  his  own  brigade  one  or 
two  pieces  of  McClannahan's  Battery. 

Moving  by  way  of  the  Moorefield  and  Alleghany  turn 
pike,  when  nearing  the  top  of  the  mountain,  he  found  the 
road  to  be  blocked  with  fallen  trees,  and  the  gap  held  by 
a  regiment  of  Federal  infantry.  Rosser,  dismounting  the 
Twelfth  Regiment,  made  a  vigorous  attack,  and  soon 
forced  his  way  through,  driving  the  enemy  before  him, 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  219 

who  retired  in  the  direction  of  Medley  to  meet  the  train 
which  was  then  coming-  up  towards  Petersburg. 

Upon  discovering  Rosser's  approach  the  Federals  parked 
their  train  of  ninety-five  wagons  at  Medley,  and  prepared 
to  defend  it.  The  guard  consisted  of  about  800  infantry 
and  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  which  seemed  amply  sufficient 
to  keep  off  an  inferior  number  of  Confederate  cavalrymen. 
Rosser  at  once  determined  to  attack,  though  having  all  told 
not  more  than  400  men.  The  Twelfth  Regiment,  under 
Colonel  Massie,  was  ordered  to  go  around  and  fall  upon 
the  enemy's  rear,  and  the  other  regiments,  partly  dis 
mounted,  were  advanced  upon  his  front  and  flank. 

The  attempt  was  a  bold  one.  The  Federals  were  in  a 
defensive  position,  superior  in  numbers,  and  at  that  time 
dismounted  cavalrymen  were  hardly  considered  a  match 
for  disciplined  infantry. 

Encouraged,  however,  by  the  confidence  of  their  leader 
and  stimulated  by  the  sight  of  the  rich  prize,  the  Confed 
erates  moved  forward  with  spirit  to  the  assault.  The  Fed 
erals  stood  firm  and  repulsed  the  first  onset,  inflicting  some 
loss.  Rosser  determined  to  attack  again,  as  by  this  time 
a  piece  of  artillery  had  reached  the  field,  which  he  ordered 
to  immediately  open  upon  them,  and  the  sight  of  its  burst 
ing  shells  spreading  panic  among  the  teamsters,  was  exhil 
arating  to  the  Confederates. 

After  one  or  two  salutes  from  his  gun,  Rosser  renewed 
the  attack.  The  dismounted  men  advanced  on  the  enemy's 
left,  while  the  cavalry,  led  by  Major  Meyers,  charged  in 
front.  The  Federals  broke  and  fled  in  disorder,  leaving  all 
their  wagons  and  forty-two  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the 
victors.  With  the  retreating  Federals  the  teamsters  carried 


22O  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

off  mules  belonging  to  nearly  forty  wagons,  which  escape 
was  owing  greatly  to  the  fact,  as  stated  by  General  Ros- 
ser,  that  the  Twelfth  Regiment,  from  some  misunderstand 
ing,  had  failed  to  get  in  position  in  the  rear  before  the 
retreat  began.  The  wagons  were  loaded  with  bacon,  sugar, 
coffee,  and  other  army  supplies,  and  proved  to  be  a  very 
valuable  capture. 

In  the  engagement  Rosser  lost  in  killed  and  wounded 
twenty-five  men.  The  enemy's  loss  was  greater.  Their 
dead  and  wounded  were  left  on  the  field,  but  the  number  is 
not  reported. 

On  the  morning  of  the  ist  of  February  Rosser,  now  re 
inforced  by  Thomas'  brigade  of  infantry,  moved  against 
Petersburg.  Upon  arriving  there,  it  was  found  that  the 
Federal  force  was  gone,  having  abandoned  in  their  haste 
a  considerable  quantity  of  ammunition  and  commissary 
stores. 

From  Petersburg  Rosser,  in  obedience  to  orders  from 
Early,  moved  down  Patterson's  Creek  to  collect  cattle,  and 
do  what  damage  he  could  to  the  Federal  communications 
on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

After  sending  Colonel  Marshall  with  the  Seventh  Regi 
ment  to  hold  the  gap  at  Mechanicsburg  against  General 
Averill,  who  was  expected  from  Martinsburg,  Rosser 
marched  down  Patterson's  Creek  to  its  mouth,  sending 
parties  out  to  bring  in  cattle  and  sheep.  Upon  reaching 
the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  at  the  mouth 
of  the  creek,  he  captured  one  guard  there,  and  destroyed 
the  railroad  bridges  over  the  Potomac,  Patterson's  Creek, 
and  the  canal.  With  his  prisoners  and  cattle,  he  now  re 
traced  his  steps,  moving  cautiously  to  avoid  Averill,  who. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  221 

he  learned,  had  forced  the  gap  at  Mechanicsburg  and  got 
ten  in  his  rear. 

By  taking  by-roads  at  different  points,  Rosser  succeeded 
in  eluding  Averill,  who,  mistaking  his  purpose,  or  fearing 
to  come  up  with  him,  adroitly  kept  out  of  his  way  while 
pretending  to  pursue  him. 

Rosser  with  all  his  prisoners,  about  1,200  cattle,  and 
other  captures  reached  Moorefield  unmolested  by  the 
enemy. 

Captain  John  McNeil  also  arrived,  bringing  from  beyond 
the  Alleghany  300  cattle. 

General  Averill,  disappointed  on  all  sides,  now  ap 
proached  Moorefield  and  menaced  it.  Early  recalled 
Thomas'  brigade,  which  had  started  for  the  Valley,  and 
ordered  Rosser  to  withdraw  through  Moorefield  as  if  in 
retreat.  He  thought  to  draw  Averill  into  the  clutches  of 
his  infantry,  but  the  wily  Federal,  whose  caution  now 
served  him  a  good  turn,  refused  the  bait  and  halted.  Early, 
after  waiting  a  few  hours,  set  out  for  the  Valley,  taking 
with  him  fifty  of  the  captured  wagons,  1,500  cattle,  and 
500  sheep. 

Stuart's  appreciation  of  what  was  done  by  Rosser  and 
his  command  on  this  expedition,  is  shown  in  the  following 
endorsement  of  Rosser's  report :  'The  bold  and  successful 
enterprise  herein  reported  furnishes  additional  proof  of 
General  Rosser's  merit  as  a  commander,  and  adds  fresh 
laurels  to  that  veteran  brigade,  so  signalized  for  valor 
already." 

Upon  its  return  to  the  Valley  the  brigade  went  into  camp 
near  Weyer's  Cave.  Many  of  the  sutlers'  stores  found  in  the 
captured  wagon  train,  had  been  appropriated  by  the  sol- 


222  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

diers,  and  for  several  days  the  new  camp  was  the  scene  of 
festive  mirth.  Brandied  cherries,  pickled  oysters,  boned 
turkey,  and  other  delicious  canned  edibles,  formed  a  part 
of  the  menu,  while  Boston  gingerbread  and  Goshen  cheese 
were  served  ad  libitum. 

The  weather  was  bright  and  cool.  There  were  daily 
visits  to  Weyer's  Cave,  not  a  few  picnics,  and  an  occasional 
horse-race.  The  luxuries  disappeared  rapidly,  and  when 
the  sugar  and  coffee  had  been  exhausted,  the  troopers 
began  to  yearn  for  another  raid. 

The  opportunity  soon  came.  On  the  evening  of  the  2Qth 
of  February  the  command  W7as  again  in  saddle,  and  started 
across  the  Blue  Ridge. 

Kilpatrick  and  Dahlgren  were  then  making  their  noto 
rious  raid  on  Richmond.  Rosser  marched  rapidly  to  take 
part  in  the  pursuit.  At  the  outset  the  weather  was  fine, 
and  many  of  the  men  not  dreaming  of  a  long  march,  left 
their  overcoats  in  camp.  By  night  the  clouds  thickened, 
the  moon  and  the  stars  were  hid,  and  a  drizzling  rain  began 
to  fall.  By  and  by  a  stiff  northeaster  blew,  and  before  mid 
night  it  began  to  sleet.  The  falling  drops  freezing  as  soon 
as  they  touched  horse  or  man,  enveloped  each  in  a  sheet  of 
ice.  The  moon  from  behind  the  clouds  furnished  enough 
light  to  make  objects  visible,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
moving  horsemen  was  weird  and  ghostlike.  Hat,  coat, 
equipments,  hair,  and  beard  covered  with  ice,  furnished  a 
complete  disguise.  The  horses,  too,  were  masked  in  glist 
ening  white,  and  shivering  with  cold  the  men  moved  on  in 
profound  silence,  nothing  being  heard  but  the  steady  tramp 
of  the  column. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  223 

After  an  all-night  ride  Charlottesville  was  reached. 
There  a  short  rest  was  taken,  and  thence  by  forced  marches 
the  command  proceeded,  sometimes  marching  all  night, 
until  they  went  into  camp  within  six  miles  of  Richmond. 
Kilpatrick  was,  however,  not  overtaken,  though  so  closely 
were  his  heels  clogged,  that  frequently  in  the  night,  the 
country  people  insisted  that  Rosser's  men  were  a  part  of 
the  enemy.  After  marching  and  Countermarching  for  two 
weeks  in  vain  pursuit  of  the  doubling  Federals,  a  rest  of 
two  days  was  taken  at  Gordonsville,  which  was  greatly 
enjoyed  in  spite  of  the  scarcity  of  food  and  forage. 

March  the  i6th  the  brigade  started  back  to  the  Valley, 
making  short  marches  until  by  the  3ist  it  was  settled  in 
comfortable  quarters  near  Lexington,  Virginia.  Though 
the  section  of  country  in  which  the  new  camp  was  pitched 
was  rich  and  as  yet  untouched  by  the  devastating  hand  of 
the  enemy,  its  abundant  supplies  had  been  much  exhausted 
to  feed  Lee's  half-starved  veterans.  The  army  ration  was 
reduced  to  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  meat  and  one  pound  of 
meal  a  day.  The  soldiers  submitted,  though  they  reserved 
the  right  to  grumble,  and  seldom  failed  when  opportunity 
offered,  to  supplement  the  deficiency  at  the  tables  of  the 
hospitable  farmers  in  the  vicinity.  Although  food  was 
scarce  the  air  and  water  were  fine,  and  among  a  people  full 
of  patriotic  zeal,  ardor  for  the  cause  was  rekindled. 

Indeed  it  was  a  period  of  happiness  for  many,  who  far 
away  from  scenes  of  war,  with  reviews  and  dress  parades, 
enjoyed  its  pomp  and  circumstance,  while  giving  full  range 
to  the  enjoyment  of  the  charms  of  peace. 


224  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

It  was  a  season,  too,  of  growth  for  the  brigade.  New 
recruits  were  added,  fresh  horses  brought  in,  and  the  old 
ones  rested,  if  not  fattened. 

With  the  approach  of  spring,  came  rumors  of  the  mov 
ing  of  Grant's  vast  multitude.  Lee  had  appealed  to  the 
mothers  of  Virginia  to  send  all  the  laggards  to  the  field, 
to  help  him  in  the  desperate  struggle  he  felt  was  approach 
ing.  In  response  to  this,  recruits  poured  in,  and  the  bri 
gade  got  its  share  of  what  was  called  the  "new  issue." 
Many  of  the  sick  and  wounded  had  recovered  and  rejoined 
their  regiments,  so  that  the  brigade  was  now  much  stronger 
both  in  quantity  and  quality  of  material  than  it  had  been 
since  its  active  campaigns. 

When  the  flowers  of  April  foretokened,  alas,  the  return 
of  war  and  a  leave-taking  from  the  new-found  friends, 
there  was  no  hanging  back  now,  as  formerly,  at  the  pros 
pect  of  quitting  the  Valley.  The  trumpet  call  of  Lee  had 
stirred  the  depths  of  the  Confederate  heart.  Like  the 
slogan  of  the  Highlands,  "Lee  needs  help !"  was  the  word 
passed  from  house  to  house,  and  from  mountain  and  plain 
came  the  sons  of  Virginia  in  response. 

The  Valley  men  were  behind  none  in  their  eagerness  to 
take  part  in  the  decisive  struggle;  and  when  on  a  bright 
May  morning  the  column  descended  the  slopes  of  the 
Blue  Ridge  and  turned  towards  the  banks  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  there  was  a  look  of  firm  resolve  in  the  faces  of  the 
gallant  troopers,  which  said  that  they  would  do  their  best 
for  Lee  and  their  country. 

May  the  4th,  1864,  Grant  crossed  the  Rapidan  and  the 
Wilderness  campaign  began. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  225 

After  breaking  camp  at  Wolf  Town,  Madison  county, 
May  the  4th,  Rosser's  brigade  moved  up  and  joined  Lee's 
army,  passing  the  infantry  in  breastworks  at  Mine  Run  and 
encamping  on  Lee's  right. 

From  all  appearances  the  morrow  promised  to  be  a 
busy  day. 

That  night  a  prisoner  captured  by  some  of  the  Eleventh 
Regiment  was  brought  into  Rosser's  camp.  Many  ques 
tions  were  put  to  him  by  some  of  the  soldiers,  as  to  what 
was  thought  of  Grant,  the  new  commander  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  His  answers  indicated  that  there  was  great 
confidence  in  Grant's  luck  and  energy. 

"Where  is  your  pontoon  train?"  said  one.  To  the  sur 
prise  of  all  he  responded,  "Grant  has  no  pontoon  train/' 

"How,  then,  are  you  going  to  get  back  over  the  river?" 
asked  another. 

"Grant  says,"  answered  the  Federal  quietly,  "that  all  of 
his  men  who  go  back  over  the  river  can  cross  on  a  log." 

This,  with  other  trifling  incidents  that  soldiers  eagerly 
seized  upon,  showed  that  the  Federal  army  under  its  new 
leader,  confiding  in  numbers  and  Grant's  luck,  meant 
serious  work. 

Next  day,  the  5th,  the  sun  rose  hot  and  lurid.  The  heat 
of  the  night  had  been  oppressive  and  the  men  poorly 
refreshed  by  broken  slumbers,  were  called  early  into  the 
saddle. 

The  command  moved  down  the  Catharpin  Road,  which 
led  to  Todd's  Tavern.  A  short  distance  west  of  the  river 
Po,  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy  was  encountered.  On  both 
sides  of  the  road  it  was  heavily  wooded,  and  the  fight  began 
between  dismounted  men  on  the  flanks.  At  first  these 


226  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

lines  were  strengthened,  and  for  some  time  the  battle  was 
of  an  infantry  character.  It  continued  to  increase  in  inten 
sity,  the  enemy  using  his  artillery  with  considerable  effect. 
Soon  the  enemy  began  to  yield  to  the  impetuosity  of  the 
attack.  But  a  Federal  battery  on  a  hill  sorely  annoyed 
Rosser,  who  now  became  impatient  to  get  to  close  quarters. 
There  was  no  charging  practicable  except  by  fours  in  the 
road,  and  that  which  was  in  front  and  to  be  overcome  was 
an  unknown  quantity.  Had  Rosser  been  aware  that  a 
Federal  division,  Wilson's,  was  confronting  him,  he  might 
have  been  more  cautious.  Under  the  circumstances,  there 
seemed  nothing  else  to  do  but  go  forward,  and  the  whole 
brigade  was  ordered  to  advance  by  fours.  The  Twelfth  was 
in  front  under  Col.  Thomas  Massie;  next  came  the  Sev 
enth,  followed  by  the  Eleventh,  with  White's  Battalion 
bringing  up  the  rear. 

The  Twelfth,  with  the  "Rebel  yell,"  dashed  at  the  solid 
ranks  of  the  enemy  over  a  barricade  of  abattis.  For  a  while 
they  stood  firm  and  received  the  charge.  Now  it  was  man 
to  man  and  hand  to  hand.  Pistol  and  sabre  were  busy  in 
slaughter,  while  the  shrieks  of  the  stricken  and  the  shouts 
of  the  victors  mingled  with  the  roar  of  battle. 

The  fierce  onset  of  the  Confederates  did  not  slacken.  On 
pressed  the  whole  brigade,  crowding  to  the  front.  The 
Federals  gave  way  and  retreated  across  the  river  Po.  On 
the  other  side  they  made  a  gallant  stand,  but  the  Confed 
erates,  now  flushed  with  victory,  pressed  forward,  and 
again  drove  them,  in  spite  of  the  efforts  of  the  officers  to 
hold  the  men  in  line. 

With  great  coolness,  the  enemy  kept  selecting  new  posi 
tions  for  their  artillery,  which  enabled  him  to  shell  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  227 

advancing  column,  but  nothing  could  keep  back  the  horse 
men  in  the  road. 

The  Federal  retreat,  however,  was  orderly,  and  at  every 
favorable  point  the  enemy  again  made  efforts  to  rally. 
Although  the  attempts  were  ineffectual,  they  were  success 
ful  enough  to  allow  their  artillery  to  withdraw  and  escape 
capture.  Finally  a  good  position  was  reached,  where  there 
was  little  timber,  and  posting  squadrons  with  supporting 
squadrons  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  the  Federals  poured 
a  deadly  fire  from  carbines  into  Rosser  s  advancing  column. 
Most  bravely  did  the  Twelfth  charge,  rally  and  charge 
again,  but  the  Federals  stood  like  a  rock. 

Rosser  now  ordered  the  Seventh  and  Eleventh  to  charge. 
Says  Lieutenant  Vandiver,  who  commanded  Company  F 
of  the  Seventh,  that  day:  "At  length  we  reached  a  point 
where  the  enemy  had  evidently  made  a  stand.  Coming  to 
an  old  field  grown  up  in  scattering  pines  and  sumac,  we 
found  the  Federal  cavalry  formed.  General  Rosser  stood 
on  a  slight  eminence  to  our  left,  and  as  the  organized  sup 
porting  column  emerged  from  the  timber  he  ordered  the 
charge.  My  company  came  up  in  good  shape.  It  seemed 
to  me  that  the  enemy  was  then  weakening,  and  in  spite  of 
efforts  of  brave  officers  to  hold  them  in  line,  were  breaking 
up.  About  that  time,  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  which  fol 
lowed  us,  came  into  the  open  ground,  and  Maj.  E.  H.  Mc 
Donald  led  it  into  action,  heading  the  charge.  Our  boys 
joined  in,  and  the  body  went  like  a  solid  shot  into  the  ranks 
of  the  Federals,  who  now  broke  and  ran.  Many  of  them 
were  captured  in  the  pursuit,  which  was  continued  for  sev 
eral  miles." 


228  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

During  this  retreat  the  Federals  made  several  attempts 
to  rally,  selecting  new  positions  for  their  guns,  and  sta 
tioning  fresh  squadrons  of  carbineers  on  the  flanks  to 
annoy  the  oncoming  Confederates. 

But  the  Confederates  only  halted  to  reform,  and  charg 
ing  the  flanking  parties  drove  them  away. 

Rosser's  men  had  begun  the  fight  with  a  scant  supply  of 
ammunition,  the  ordnance  train  in  the  march  from  the 
Valley  not  having  kept  up  with  the  column.  As  prisoners 
were  taken  their  ammunition  was  eagerly  seized,  but  this 
was  not  sufficient,  and  after  several  hours  of  fighting  some 
of  the  men  became  discouraged. 

White's  Battalion  was  drawn  up  on  one  side  of  the  road, 
and  as  a  regiment  of  Yankees  galloped  down  in  their  front 
Captain  Meyers,  commanding  Company  A,  turned  to  Col 
onel  White  and  asked,  "Colonel,  how  can  we  fight  those  fel 
lows  with  no  ammunition?  We'd  as  well  have  rocks  as 
empty  pistols."  But  the  Colonel  replied  so  grimly,  "What 
are  our  sabres  for?"  that  the  men  drew  their  blades  with 
out  further  hesitation,  and  charged  square  at  the  Yankee 
column,  which  wheeled  about  and  retired  faster  than  it 
came. 

White's  Battalion  had  been  christened  by  Rosser  "The 
Comanches"  on  account  of  the  wild  and  reckless  dash  with 
which  they  usually  bore  down  upon  the  enemy. 

After  pursuing  the  Federals  to  the  vicinity  of  Todd's 
Tavern,  Rosser  halted  and  began  to  retrace  his  steps. 

Meantime  Wilson,  reinforced  by  Gregg's  division, 
assumed  the  offensive  and  began  to  harass  Rosser's  rear. 
The  skirmishing  was  slight,  but  continued  until  the  Con 
federates  had  crossed  the  river  Po.  In  this  fight  Rosser's 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  229 

loss  was  considerable,  but  not  nearly  so  great  as  it  was  the 
next  day;  yet  it  seems  to  be  remembered  with  greater  pride. 
It  was  a  sort  of  duel  between  a  Confederate  brigade  and  a 
Federal  division,  in  which  the  former  had  come  out  victor 
ious.  The  superiority  of  the  enemy  in  numbers,  clearly 
seen  by  the  men.  instead  of  dispiriting  only  roused  them  to 
more  energetic  action.  There  was,  too,  a  good  deal  of  dis 
order  on  both  sides,  and  more  than  once  the  scales  of  vic 
tory  were  turned  by  the  prowess  of  a  few. 

Whether  Gregg  came  up  before  Wilson  had  retired,  does 
not  appear. 

General  Grant,  in  his  memoirs,  says :  "During  the  after 
noon,  Sheridan  sent  Gregg's  division  of  cavalry  to  Todd's 
Tavern  in  search  of  Wilson.  This  was  fortunate.  He 
found  Wilson  engaged  with  a  superior  force  under  General 
Rosser  supported  by  infantry,  and  falling  back  before  it. 
Together,  they  were  strong  enough  to  turn  the  tables  upon 
the  enemy  and  themselves  become  aggressive.  They  soon 
drove  the  Rebel  cavalry  back  beyond  'Corbin's  bridge.'  ' 

Grant  was  evidently  misinformed  and,  if  we  are  to  com 
pute  the  historical  value  of  all  the  "Personal  Memoirs"  by 
the  measure  of  truth  in  this  statement,  it  would  amount  to 
very  little.  There  was  no  infantry  with  Rosser  and  his 
force  was  greatly  inferior  to  that  of  Wilson.  It  was  not 
known  for  a  long  time  afterwards,  by  the  men  at  least,  that 
Gregg  had  reinforced  Wilson,  or  they  would  have  been  still 
more  proud  of  the  work  done  that  day. 

The  general  impression  among  the  survivors  is  that  then 
for  the  first  time  the  command  assumed  the  name  of  the 
Laurel  Brigade.  Whether,  as  some  say,  it  was  due  to  the 
fact  that  several  soldiers  conspicuous  on  the  field  wore  lau- 


230  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

rel  on  their  hats,  or  that  Rosser,  proud  of  his  victory, 
dubbed  the  command  the  "Laurel  Brigade,"  does  not  ap 
pear.  Certain  it  is  that  from  and  after  that  date  the  name 
of  "Laurel"  was  first  used  by  the  men  themselves.1 

General  Wilson,  in  his  official  report  of  this  fight  on  May 
5th,  says: 

"By  eight  A.  M.  the  Second  Brigade,  with  the  First  Vermont 
Cavalry,  Colonel  Preston  commanding,  in  advance,  had  arrived 
at  Craig's  Meeting-House.  Just  beyond  they  encountered  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  Rosser's  brigade,  and  after  a  very  sharp  fight 
and  several  handsome  charges,  drove  it  rapidly  back  a  distance 
of  two  miles,  taking  some  prisoners.  About  noon  Chapman's 
ammunition  became  exhausted,  and,  fearing  to  pres-s  the  pur 
suit  too  far,  I  directed  him  to  hold  the  position  he  then  occupied 
and  observe  closely  the  movements  of  the  enemy's  troops. 
Having  observed  the  menacing  disposition  of  the  enemy  in 
front  of  Chapman's  brigade,  I  directed  him  to  collect  his  dis 
mounted  men  and  be  prepared  to  fall  back  if  the  enemy  should 
press  him  too  severely.  Soon  after  this,  having  received  rein 
forcements,  the  enemy  advanced  and  compelled  Chapman  to 
retire.  It  was  now  apparent  that  the  Rebel  force  was  consider 
ably  superior  to  ours,  and,  being  short  of  ammunition,  I  direct 
ed  Chapman  to  fall  back  rapidly  beyond  the  Meeting-House, 
and  reform  in  rear  of  the  First  Brigade.  My  headquarters  hav 
ing  been  located  at  Mrs.  Faulkner's  house,  when  the  Rebels 
arrived  at  that  place  my  escort,  composed  of  about  fifty  men  of 
the  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Long, 
Third  Indiana  Cavalry,  gave  them  a  severe  check,  and  in  con 
junction  with  a  heavy  fire  from  Pennington's  and  Fitzhugh's 


JQuite  a  number  of  survivors  of  the  brigade  insist  that  the  name  was 
given  by  General  Rosser,  at  an  earlier  date,  in  the  Valley,  which  is  prob 
ably  true ;  the  name,  however,  was  not  immediately  adopted  by  the  men. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  231 

batteries,  enabled  everything  to  withdraw  from  the  main  road 
to  the  position  occupied  by  the  First  Brigade.  I  had  scarcely 
arrived  there,  however,  when  I  was  informed  by  Colonel  Bryan 
that  the  enemy  had  made  his  appearance,  at  an  early  hour  in  the 
forenoon,  in  his  rear,  on  the  road  to  Parker's  Store,  and  that 
none  of  my  couriers  to  General  Meade  had  succeeded  in  getting 
through.  Surprised  at  this,  and  fearing  for  the  safety  of  my 
command,  I  immediately  determined  to  withdraw  by  a  blind 
road  by  Todd's  Tavern  to  Chancellorsville.  I  had  scarcely 
taken  this  resolution,  when  I  perceived  that  the  enemy  was 
pushing  rapidly  down  the  Catharpin  Road  in  the  same  direc 
tion.  The  march  was  begun  at  once ;  the  Second  Brigade  in 
advance,  followed  by  the  batteries  and  the  First  Brigade.  The 
Eighteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  Lieut. -Col.  W.  P.  Brinton 
commanding,  was  left  to  cover  the  rear.  The  main  column 
crossed  the  river  Po  near  its  head,  and  struck  the  Catharpin 
Road  just  beyond  Corbin's  Bridge.  It  had  scarcely  got  upon 
the  road  when  the  Rebels  made  their  appearance  on  the  hill 
west  of  the  bridge.  I  succeeded  in  reaching  the  road  with  my 
escort  just  in  time  to  prevent  being  cut  off.  The  rear  guard 
found  the  road  occupied  by  the  enemy,  but  Colonel  Brinton 
made  three  brilliant  and  determined  charges,  breaking  the 
enemy's  cavalry;  but  finding  he  could  not  succeed  in  getting 
through  without  heavy  loss,  he  struck  off  to  the  left  and  joined 
the  division  late  in  the  evening. 

"At  Todd's  Tavern  I  found  Brigadier-General  Gregg,  with 
his  division,  and  passing  behind  him,  formed  my  command  to 
assist  in  holding  the  place.  Gregg  moved  promptly  out, 
attacked  the  enemy,  and  after  a  sharp  fight  repulsed  him." 

General  Davies  of  Gregg's  division,  in  his  report,  says : 

"On  the  morning  of  the  5th  we  marched  to  Todd's  Tavern, 
and  on  arriving  there  relieved  the  Third  Division.  We  fought 
until  dark  and  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy.  Lost  sixty- 


232  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

one  men,  mostly  from  the  First  New  Jersey  and  First  Massa 
chusetts  Cavalry." 

Col.   John   W.   Kester,    of   First   New   Jersey   Cavalry, 
reports : 

"When  we  arrived  at  a  village  called  Todd's  Tavern,  we  met 
the  Third  Cavalry  Division,  commanded  by  General  Wilson, 
rapidly  retreating  before  the  enemy's  cavalry  in  a  very  dis 
ordered  state.  General  Davies'  brigade  was  immediately 
thrown  forward,  and  having  repidly  moved  a  half  mile,  we 
met  the  advance  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  pressing  forward  on 
the  rear  of  General  Wilson.  Captain  Hart,  with  the  First 
Squadron,  was  ordered  to  charge,  which  he  did  with  such 
impetuosity  that  the  enemy  in  turn  was  routed,  and  the  gallant 
First  Squadron  pressed  them  back  on  their  main  body,  until 
they  in  turn  were  met  by  the  charge  of  a  Rebel  regiment,  which 
again  turned  the  tide  of  battle.  At  this  critical  juncture,  I 
hastened  to  his  support  with  three  squadrons  of  my  regiment, 
the  remaining  two  being  sent  on  the  flanks.  Hastily  forming 
these  squadrons  in  line  of  battle,  the  whole  line  moved  forward 
and  gave  the  enemy  such  a  sharp  volley,  followed  by  a  rapid 
fire  at  will,  that  they  desisted  from  their  charge  and  endeavored 
to  keep  back  the  advancing  line  of  my  regiment,  but  without 
success.  Forward  we  moved  as  steadily  as  a  parade,  the  Rebels 
endeavoring  to  check  us  with  showers  of  canister,  but  with  no 
avail ;  and  they  hastily  limbered  up  their  guns,  and  fell  back 
just  in  time  to  prevent  their  capture." 


Maj.  John  W.  Emmett,  assistant  adjutant-general  on  staff  of 
Genl.  Thos.  L.  Rosser.  This  gallant  gentleman  and  officer,  so  well  and 
favorably  known  to  the  men  and  officers  of  the  Laurel  Brigade,  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  body  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  on  the 
5th  of  May,  1864,  and  again  was  wounded  in  the  foot  in  one  of  the 
battles  with  Sheridan  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  by  which  he  was 
disabled  for  the  rest  of  the  war. 


MAJ.   JOHN    W.    EMMETT 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  233 

From  the  foregoing  official  reports  of  the  Federal  offi 
cers  in  command  of  the  opposed  forces,  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  Laurel  Brigade,  consisting  of  three  regiments,  one 
battalion,  and  Chew's  Battery,  had  repulsed  the  whole  of 
Wilson's  division,  and  driven  it  beyond  the  Po  River,  com 
pelling  Wilson  to  seek  shelter  and  reform  his  command  in 
the  rear  of  Gregg's  division,  which  had  been  sent  to  his 
support.  It  was  not  until  the  Laurel  Brigade  was  assailed 
by  the  combined  forces  of  Wilson  and  Gregg,  numbering 
seventeen  regiments  of  cavalry  and  six  batteries,  that  it  was 
forced  to  fall  back  beyond  the  Po  River. 

General  Lee,  in  his  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  says : 
"A  large  force  of  cavalry  and  artillery  on  our  right  flank 
was  driven  back  by  Rosser's  brigade." 

The  brigade,  in  this  all-day  conflict,  had  more  than  sus 
tained  its  previous  reputation,  and  earned  the  name  of 
"Laurel,"  by  which  it  was  thereafter  known.  It  had  opened 
the  ball  of  the  Wilderness  campaign,  the  most  noted  in  the 
annals  of  modern  warfare,  the  campaign  in  which,  more 
than  in  any  other,  the  marvelous  generalship  of  Robert  E. 
Lee  was  demonstrated,  and  had  protected  the  right  flank 
of  his  army  against  an  overwhelming  force  of  Federal 
cavalry. 

Its  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  was  114,  the 
larger  part  in  killed  and  wounded.  It  had  inflicted  upon  its 
antagonist,  as  admitted  by  Federal  reports,  three  officers 
and  ninety-four  men  killed,  twenty-seven  officers  and  389 
men  wounded,  and  187  men  missing. 

Weary  with  the  hard  day's  work  and  the  excitement  of 
battle,  the  men  slept  an  unbroken  sleep,  little  dreaming  that 


234  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

the  morrow  would  prove  for  them  the  bloodiest  day  of  the 
war. 

At  break  of  clay  on  the  6th  all  was  astir,  and  by  sunrise 
the  bugle  called  to  horse.  The  sun  was  just  glinting  through 
the  pine-tree  tops  as  the  column  marched  out  to  its  place  in 
the  battle  line. 

Lee's  infantry  was  already  engaged,  and  on  the  right 
could  be  distinctly  heard  the  ceaseless  roll  of  musketry, 
which  rose  and  fell  like  the  distant  roar  of  a  mighty  torrent. 

White  with  his  battalion  led  the  advance,  with  Company 
A,  commanded  by  Captain  Myers,  in  front.  After  crossing 
the  river  Po,  and  passing  the  Chancellor  plantation,  the 
brigade  entered  the  open  pine  country  bordering  the  Wil 
derness.  Rosser  sent  orders  to  White  to  run  over  every 
thing  he  came  to.  "How  far  must  I  go  ?"  inquired  White. 
To  this  the  officer  bearing  the  order  could  not  well  reply, 
and  at  White's  suggestion  went  back  for  more  explicit  in 
structions.  'Tell  him,"  said  Rosser,  "to  drive  them  as  far 
as  he  can."  In  obedience  to  which,  White  immediately 
closed  up  his  ranks  and  moved  briskly  forward.  Soon  the 
enemy's  pickets  were  encountered  and  driven  rapidly  back 
upon  their  reserve.  White  pushed  them  all  before  him, 
the  whole  brigade  following  at  a  gallop.  Above  the  rush  of 
the  column  could  be  heard  the  shouts  of  the  "Comanches" 
as  they  dashed  upon  the  flying  Federals. 

White,  in  the  ardor  of  the  pursuit,  which  carried  his 
command  some  distance  in  advance  of  any  support,  came 
suddenly  upon  Federal  infantry  and  dismounted  cavalry 
in  a  pine  forest,  who  promptly  opened  upon  him  with  vol 
leys  of  musketry  and  carbines,  inflicting  some  loss  among 
the  "Comanches." 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  235 

He  would  probably  have  been  pursued  by  the  mounted 
cavalry,  which  had  reformed,  had  not  Rosser  quickly  put  in 
the  Eleventh  to  cover  his  retreat. 

The  Eleventh,  under  Major  McDonald,  now  charged  in 
fine  style,  and  again  the  pines  resounded  with  the  "shout  of 
the  captains"  and  the  roar  of  battle. 

The  Federals  were  now  better  prepared,  and  the  rattle  of 
the  musketry  grew  louder.  The  Eleventh  pressed  on  into 
the  pines  and  turned  back  the  advancing  column  of  Fed 
erals,  driving  them  through  the  pines  until  it  came  sud 
denly  upon  Grant's  entrenched  infantry.  Though  the  Elev 
enth  had  delivered  a  staggering  blow,  yet  it  quailed  before 
the  tremendous  fire  then  poured  into  it,  and  began  to  retire. 

Now  the  Twelfth,  under  Colonel  Massie,  tried  it,  closely 
followed  by  the  Seventh  under  Colonel  Dulany.  Into  the 
pines,  murky  with  the  smoke  of  battle,  they  charged.  Every 
step  forward  revealed  new  bodies  of  the  enemy.  The  timid 
recoiled,  but  a  few  of  the  bravest  pushed  on  until  forced  to 
retire  to  avoid  capture. 

Rosser  now  ordered  a  piece  of  artillery,  which  was  the 
first  of  Thompson's  Battery  to  reach  the  field,  and  was  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant  Carter,  to  open.  Carter  hastily 
pulling  down  a  rail  fence,  brought  his  piece  at  a  gallop  into 
the  field,  and  planted  it  on  the  rising  ground  before  men 
tioned.  He  delivered  his  fire  into  the  pines  over  the  heads 
of  the  few  struggling  Confederates  who, — at  the  edge  of 
the  woods,  still  faced  the  foe.  The  enemy  did  not  advance. 
Not  a  bluecoat  rode  out  of  the  pines.  For  a  brief  space,  the 
broken  regiments  attempted  a  stand  on  the  hill  upon  which 
Carter's  piece  was  planted.  But  the  Federals  had  now 
quickly  placed  in  position  to  the  left  of  the  pines,  on  a 


236  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

slight  eminence  opposite  to  Carter,  five  or  six  guns.  These 
swept  the  hills  with  a  terrible  fire.  Before  it  went  down 
men  and  horses,  and  the  ground  was  strewn  with  the  dead 
and  dying.  The  horsemen  now  fell  back  into  a  woods 
behind  Carter's  piece  in  much  confusion.  There  they  halted 
and  began  to  reform.  Rosser  hastily  strengthened  his  left 
with  about  150  dismounted  men  under  Maj.  E.  H. 
McDonald. 

The  enemy  lined  the  ridge-like  eminence  opposite  with 
infantry  or  dismounted  men,  whose  continuous  volleys, 
uniting  with  those  of  their  well-served  artillery,  swept 
every  part  of  the  Confederate  position.  A  little  to  the  right 
and  rear  of  Carter's  piece,  White  had  gathered  about  thirty 
of  his  men,  and  a  little  further  to  the  right  was  a  small  por 
tion  of  the  Eleventh,  probably  a  dozen  men,  under  Lieut. 
Isaac  Parsons,  still  facing  the  foe.  Carter  stood  his  ground, 
answering  with  great  rapidity  the  Federal  shots.  Now  and 
then  the  enemy  concentrated  his  fire  on  Carter,  raining 
bombs  around  him.  But  he  and  his  men,  like  salamanders, 
seemed  to  revel  amidst  the  fire.  Enveloped  in  the  smoke  of 
bursting  shells  the  brave  gunners  worked  their  pieces,  Car 
ter  encouraging  them  with  cheering  words  and  with  shouts 
of  triumph  as  he  saw  his  well-aimed  shots  take  effect. 

The  truth  is  that  the  Federal  artillery  was  making  great 
havoc,  though  the  foe  could  not  see  it.  Most  of  the  bombs 
aimed  at  Carter's  gun  passed  over  him,  so  close  was  he  to 
the  enemy,  and  burst  in  the  woods  where  the  Confederate 
cavalry  regiments  were  attempting  to  reform,  falling  right 
among  them,  killing  and  wounding  a  great  many. 

The  care  of  the  dead  and  dying,  and  the  plunging  of  the 
wounded  and  frightened  horses,  created  unavoidable  con- 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  237 

fusion.  Under  the  circumstances,  it  seemed  impossible 
to  form  column.  Stuart  was  there,  riding  among  the  men 
and  officers,  and  calling  upon  them  to  be  steady.  The 
ordeal  was  a  terrible  one  for  cavalry,  and  though  apparently 
deaf  to  orders  amidst  the  thunder  of  bursting  shells,  yet 
most  of  the  men  stood  firm.  The  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  was  considerable. 

Meantime  Rosser  sat  on  his  horse  near  Carter's  gun, 
expecting  every  moment  to  see  a  regiment  of  Federal  horse 
burst  over  the  crest  of  the  opposite  hill.  None  came,  how 
ever,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  splendid  and  well-main 
tained  charges  of  the  Laurel  Brigade,  together  with  the 
incomparable  service  of  the  horse  artillery,  which  had 
charged  with  the  cavalry,  and  discharged  canister  into 
large  bodies  of  the  enemy  at  close  range,  had  severely 
punished  the  Federal  cavalry  and  dampened  the  ardor  of 
Wilson. 

On  the  7th,  there  was  little  fighting  along  any  part  of 
Lee's  line.  White's  Battalion  had  a  light  skirmish  at  the 
bridge  over  the  river  Po,  in  which  it  defeated  an  attempt  of 
the  Federals  to  take  and  hold  it. 

Towards  evening  General  Hampton  met  a  reconnoiter- 
ing  force  of  the  enemy,  and  drove  it  back.  In  this  engage 
ment  the  brigade  participated  to  some  extent. 

On  the  night  of  the  7th,  Grant  began  his  movement  by 
the  left  flank  towards  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and  on 
the  8th,  Lee's  infantry  began  a  movement  to  the  right. 

On  the  morning  of  May  the  8th,  Rosser  with  the  Lau 
rel  Brigade  joined  Genl.  Wade  Hampton  at  Shady  Grove, 
and  from  that  time  to  the  ist  of  September,  the  brigade 
formed  a  part  of  Hampton's  division. 


238  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

When  Stuart  fell  and  Hampton  was  put  in  command  of 
the  cavalry  corps,  his  division  was  commanded  by  Gen 
eral  Butler  of  South  Carolina. 

The  enemy  now  appeared,  May  8th,  in  full  force  in  front 
of  Hampton's  division,  then  consisting  of  Young's  and 
Rosser's  brigades.  By  means  of  the  artillery's  well-directed 
fire  his  advance  was  soon  checked. 

Receiving  orders  from  Lee  to  attack  the  enemy  vigor 
ously,  in  order  to  co-operate  with  Early,  who  was  about  to 
attack  their  left  at  Todd's  Tavern,  Hampton  sent  Rosser 
to  attack  their  right  and  rear,  while  he  with  Young's  bri 
gade  pressed  their  front.  Both  movements  were  executed 
handsomely  and  vigorously,  and  the  attack  was  a  complete 
success.  The  enemy  fell  back  rapidly,  abandoning  his 
camp  and  newly-issued  rations. 

The  fighting  had  been  mostly  against  the  enemy's  infan 
try,  little  or  no  cavalry  having  been  seen  since  the  6th. 

This  was  the  first  engagement  of  the  Laurel  Brigade 
under  Genl.  Wade  Hampton,  and  was  fought  mainly  by 
dismounted  men.  It  was  Hampton's  favorite  method,  to 
use  cavalry  as  mounted  infantry  and  carbineers,  wherever 
the  nature  of  the  country,  such  as  that  of  the  Wilderness, 
made  it  practicable;  the  horses  being  of  use  primarily  for 
quickness  of  movement  from  one  point  to  another,  the 
fighting  being  done  on  foot  with  carbines.  By  adopting 
this  use  of  cavalry,  Hampton  had  by  several  decades  antici 
pated  the  universal  modern  use  of  mounted  soldiers.  The 
introduction  of  the  long-range  repeating  carbine  having 
rendered  the  cavalry  charge  with  sabre  and  pistol  almost 
entirely  impracticable  and  obsolete. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  239 

The  cavalrymen  realizing  the  usual  success  of  Hampton's 
method,  especially  where  there  was  to  be  long-maintained 
opposition  to  the  enemy's  infantry,  were  willing  to  dis 
mount  and  accepted  the  use  of  carbines,  which  many  of 
them  had  heretofore  despised,  preferring  to  dash  in  upon 
the  enemy  with  sabre  and  pistol. 

The  fighting  on  the  8th  being  mainly  skirmishing  with 
the  infantry,  most  of  whom  were  behind  breastworks  and 
abattis,  the  day  was  destitute  of  incidents  worthy  of  men 
tion. 

Next  day  the  enemy  drove  in  Hampton's  pickets  and  after 
a  sharp  fight  obtained  possession  of  the  main  road  leading 
from  Shady  Grove  to  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and  also 
held  the  bridge  over  the  river  Po. 

On  the  loth  Early  was  sent  to  dislodge  them.  In  this 
attack,  which  was  successful,  Hampton's  division  partici 
pated. 

On  May  the  I2th,  the  great  and  bloody  battle  of  Spott 
sylvania  Court  House  was  fought.  Hampton  took  posi 
tion  on  Lee's  left,  with  his  sharpshooters  in  the  trenches, 
and  his  artillery  posted  so  as  to  seriously  annoy  the  right 
flank  of  the  Federals. 

On  the  1 5th,  Rosser  made  a  forced  reconnoissance  as  far 
as  the  Poor  House,  in  the  direction  of  Fredericksburg, 
driving  in  all  the  cavalry  he  met,  and  developing  the  posi 
tion  of  Grant's  right  flank.  In  this  movement  the  Eleventh 
was  in  front  and  suffered  some  losses.  Among  the  wounded 
was  Lieut.  B.  Funsten,  adjutant  of  the  regiment. 

On  the  1 6th,  news  came  of  the  fight  at  Yellow  Tavern 
and  the  fall  of  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart.  The  effect  of  the  news, 
at  first,  was  greatly  to  depress  the  men  of  the  Laurel  Bri- 


240  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

gade,  who  had  followed  the  plume  of  Stuart  on  many  a 
hard-fought  field,  and  had  been  extricated  by  his  genius 
and  daring,  from  frequent  situations  of  imminent  peril. 
But  recognizing  such  fatalities  as  the  inevitable  and  looked- 
for  incidents  of  war,  they  steeled  themselves  to  the  per 
formance  of  present  duty  for  sake  of  the  cause,  which,  with 
the  noble  example  of  Stuart,  still  remained. 

Grant  was  now  moving  rapidly  towards  Spottsylvania 
Court  House,  and  Lee's  infantry,  in  order  to  confront  him, 
moved  speedily  in  the  same  direction,  leaving  the  Laurel 
Brigade  to  protect  the  left  wing  of  Lee's  army. 

Sheridan  with  his  cavalry  corps  continued  his  march 
towards  Richmond,  and  on  the  Qth  had  gone  around  Lee's 
right  with  a  heavy  force  of  cavalry,  and  on  the  nth, 
was  confronted  at  Yellow  Tavern  by  Stuart  with  greatly 
inferior  numbers.  Sheridan  pressed  his  whole  front  vigor 
ously,  while  he  sent  one  brigade  to  make  a  dash  upon  Stu 
art's  left.  To  this  point,  as  the  one  of  greatest  danger, 
Stuart  rode.  Before  he  got  there,  nearly  the  whole  left  had 
given  way,  but  he  found  a  few  men  still  holding  the 
ground,  and  these  he  joined.  With  these  men  he  fired  into 
the  enemy's  flank  and  rear  as  they  passed  and  repassed  him, 
for  they  were  driven  back  by  the  First  Virginia  Cavalry. 
As  the  Federals  retired  "one  man  who  had  been  dismounted 
in  the  charge,  and  was  running  out  on  foot,  turned  as  he 
passed  the  General  and  discharging  his  pistol,  inflicted  the 
fatal  wound."2  While  a  few  still  held  the  enemy  in  check 
Stuart  was  borne  from  the  field  in  an  ambulance.  When  he 
noticed  the  disorganized  ranks  of  his  men  he  cried  out : 
"Go  back,  go  back  and  do  your  duty  as  I  have  done  mine, 


2McClellan's  "Stuart  and  His  Campaigns." 


GENL.   J.    E.    B.   STUART 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  241 

and  our  country  will  be  safe.  Go  back!  Go  back!  I  had 
rather  die  than  be  whipped."3  These  were  his  last  words 
on  the  battlefield.  On  the  evening  of  the  following  day  he 
died. 

Few,  if  any,  of  Lee's  great  captains  had  won  more 
fame  than  Stuart,  and  none  was  more  beloved  by  the 
cavalrymen.  Perhaps,  his  most  distinguishing  character 
istic,  and  the  one  which  endeared  him  most  to  the  rank 
and  file,  was  his  self-contained  and  buoyant  manner  in  the 
presence  of  the  greatest  danger,  and  his  personal  courage 
and  dash.  The  brilliant  and  successful  charge,  being  in 
the  nature  of  what  he  expected,  often  seemed  unnoticed  by 
him ;  but  if  there  was  a  repulse  or  a  threatening  of  disaster, 
right  in  the  deadly  breach  was  to  be  seen  the  waving  plume 
of  Stuart,  where  with  burning  words  and  flashing  sword  he 
strove  to  wrest  victory  from  defeat. 

In  the  bloom  of  manhood  and  the  noontide  of  his  fame, 
this  brilliant  soldier,  superb  cavalier,  and  Christian  patriot 
gave  to  his  State  the  libation  of  his  blood,  and  his  life  a 
noble  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  his  country. 


3McClellan. 


CHAPTER  IX 

June,   1864 

Hampton  takes  command  of  cavalry — Milford — Haw's  Shop — Atlee's 
Station — Depleted  condition  of  brigade — Scarcity  of  food  and  for 
age — Grant  develops  his  wearing  out  policy — Assails  Lee's  lines  of 
communication — Wilson  attempts  to  cut  the  Virginia  Central 
Railroad — Fight  at  Ashland — Heroic  act  of  Maj.  Holmes  Conrad 
— Wilson  defeated  and  pursued — Another  affair  at  Haw's  Shop — 
White's  Comanches  charge  Federal  breastworks — Hampton  sent 
to  meet  Sheridan's  raiders — Battle  of  Trevilians — Pursues  Sheri 
dan  to  the  North  Anna — Hard  fare  for  men  and  horses — Some  types 
of  vandals — Skirmishing  near  White  House — Cavalry  against  in 
fantry  and  gunboats — Hanging  on  Sheridan's  flank — White's  Bat 
talion  detached — Sheridan  entrenches  at  Samaria  Church — Is 
driven  out  of  entrenchments,  leaving  dead  and  wounded — Col. 
Thomas  E.  Massie  of  the  Twelfth  wounded — Pursuit  of  Sheridan 
to  Charles  City  Court  House. 

On  the  i Qth  of  June  Hampton,  taking  with  him  Rossers 
brigade,  co-operated  with  Ewell  in  his  attack  on  the  enemy. 
Moving  around  Ewell's  left,  he  drove  in  some  Federal 
cavalry  and  succeeded  in  planting  two  guns  in  the  rear  of 
the  enemy's  right  flank,  which  did  good  service.  This  good 
service  was  rendered  by  two  guns  of  Thompson's  Battery. 
Their  well-aimed  shots  drew  the  attention  of  the  enemy, 
who  sent  a  force  of  infantry  to  capture  them.  At  first 
Thompson  checked  them  with  grape  and  canister,  but  upon 
discovering  the  magnitude  of  the  attacking  force,  he  with 
drew,  having  been  ordered  by  Rosser  to  do  so.  Ever  since 
the  battle  of  May  the  i2th,  when  Grant  suffered  such  heavy 
loss  in  his  attempt  to  break  through  the  Confederate  lines, 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  243 

there  had  been  a  continuous  movement  of  the  Federal  army 
towards  Lee's  right.  This  necessitated  a  corresponding 
movement  of  the  Confederates. 

On  the  2 ist  of  May,  Hampton  proceeded  towards  Mil- 
ford,  and  encountered  some  cavalry  at  Wright's  Tavern, 
within  two  miles  of  Milford.  Rosser  charged  at  once  and 
drove  them  back  on  a  strong  force  of  infantry  and  artillery, 
thus  developing  Grant's  movement  to  Hanover  Junction. 
Placing  his  division  in  front  of  this  column  Hampton  fell 
back  slowly  to  the  Junction,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy 
and  checking  him  at  the  bridge  near  the  Junction,  until  re 
lieved  by  infantry.  The  division  was  then  posted  on  Lee's 
left. 

On  the  25th  and  26th  there  were  heavy  rains,  which 
made  the  roads  very  muddy.  On  the  27th,  at  eleven  o'clock 
in  the  night,  the  brigade  mounted  and  marched  towards  An 
derson's  Ford,  passing  through  Ashland  and  camping  near 
Atlee's  Station,  with  the  whole  division  within  six  miles  of 
Richmond. 

At  Atlee's  Station  Hampton,  now  commanding  all  the 
cavalry,  was  ordered  to  ascertain  if  all  the  infantry  of  the 
enemy  had  crossed  the  Pamunkey  River.  Accordingly,  on 
the  morning  of  the  28th,  taking  with  him  William  H.  F. 
Lee's  division,  Wickham's,  Butler's,  and  Rosser's  brigades, 
he  moved  towards  the  enemy  and  encountered  his  pickets 
within  two  miles  of  Haw's  Shop.  These  were  at  once 
driven  in  on  the  main  body. 

Rosser's  and  Wickham's  brigades  led  in  the  assault  and 
a  heavy  engagement  ensued.  Only  dismounted  men  and 
the  artillery  were  engaged,  and  the  ground  was  stubbornly 
contested  by  both  sides,  with  mutual  loss,  for  some  hours. 


244  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

After  much  bloodshed  the  Federals  gave  way  but,  being 
heavily  reinforced,  they  soon  recovered  their  lost  ground, 
and  became  the  attacking  party. 

Hampton  hearing  from  some  of  the  prisoners  that  Sheri 
dan's  whole  cavalry  force,  besides  a  large  body  of  infantry, 
was  opposed  to  him,  determined  to  withdraw. 

With  an  aggressive  and  superior  force  in  his  front  this 
was  no  easy  matter,  and  the  difficulty  was  increased  by  the 
too  sudden  withdrawal  of  Wickham's  brigade,  which,  being 
in  the  line  between  Rosser's  and  Butler's  brigades,  left  a 
gap  that  exposed  their  flanks.  The  enemy  was  quick  to 
take  advantage  of  this.  "Rosser's  men  being  veterans," 
says  Hampton,  "withdrew  without  loss  and  in  perfect  order 
under  their  able  commander,"  but  Butler's  troops,  many  of 
whom  were  raw  recruits,  were  not  so  easily  handled.  Vig 
orously  attacked  on  the  flank  before  they  had  begun  to 
retire,  though  up  to  this  time  they  had  fought  admirably, 
they  now  fell  into  disorder  and  suffered  heavily.  Being 
without  any  general  officer  in  command,  for  Butler  was 
absent  from  a  previous  wound,  Hampton  went  in  and 
brought  them  out. 

The  Confederate  loss  in  this  engagement  was  quite  seri 
ous,  though  that  of  the  enemy  was  probably  greater.  Ros 
ser's  loss  was  eight  killed  and  about  twenty  wounded. 

By  this  time  the  number  of  men  fit  for  duty  in  the  bri 
gade  was  much  less  than  on  the  5th  of  May,  though  not  a 
few  recruits  had  come  to  fill  up  the  depleted  ranks.  More 
than  300  had  been  killed,  wounded,  or  captured  since  the 
beginning  of  the  campaign.  A  still  greater  number  of 
horses  had  been  killed  or  disabled,  and  the  ranks  of  the  dis 
mounted  men  continued  to  swell.  The  scarcity  of  forage 


MAJ.    HOLMES   CONRAD 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  245 

was  severely  felt.  Little  was  furnished  and  the  cavalrymen 
had  to  rely  mainly  upon  the  pastures  they  chanced  to  find  at 
the  places  of  temporary  rest.  Often,  after  a  hard  day's 
fight,  they  were  occupied  long  after  dark  in  hunting  food 
and  forage.  The  rations,  too,  were  poor  and  supplied  in 
scant  quantity. 

Grant  had  already  discovered,  that  the  only  way  to  over 
come  Lee  was  to  destroy  his  means  of  subsistence,  and 
accordingly,  by- means  of  his  numerous  and  well-appointed 
cavalry,  he  began  to  assail  Lee's  lines  of  communication. 

On  the  3  ist  of  May,  Wilson  with  his  division  was  sent 
to  seize  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad  and  destroy  it  as  far 
back  as  possible. 

On  the  ist  of  June  this  raiding  column  attacked  William 
F.  Lee's  command  near  Hanover  Court  House,  and  forced 
it  to  fall  back  towards  Ashland.  Hampton  at  once  went  to 
his  assistance  with  Rosser's  brigade,  and  struck  the  rear  of 
the  Federals.  Having  notified  W.  F.  Lee  that  Rosser 
would  attack  as  soon  as  he  came  up  with  the  enemy,  this 
column  was  charged  as  soon  as  it  was  discovered  and 
thrown  into  confusion.  Following  up  his  success,  Rosser 
pressed  the  enemy  vigorously,  and  in  a  series  of  brilliant 
charges,  some  of  which  were  over  dismounted  men,  he 
drove  Wilson  into  Ashland,  capturing  prisoners  from  eight 
regiments,  about  200  horses  and  many  arms. 

Wilson  now  made  a  stubborn  stand,  posting  his  artillery 
in  the  village  of  Ashland,  and  his  men  behind  the  houses 
and  the  railroad  embankment. 

"Meeting  Lee  on  the  Telegraph  Road  near  Ashland,  I 
directed  him  to  attack  at  once.  The  North  Carolina  Bri- 


246  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

gade  was  dismounted  for  this  purpose,  and  in  the  first  vol 
ley  fired  against  them,  Brig.-Genl.  P.  M.  B.  Young,  who 
was  temporarily  in  command  of  the  brigade,  received  a 
severe  wound.  Deprived  of  the  direction  of  this  gallant 
officer,  the  brigade  failed  to  dislodge  Wilson  in  the  first 
assault.  Lee  immediately  formed  his  troops  for  another 
attack,  whilst  I  took  the  Tenth  Virginia  and  a  squadron  of 
the  Third  North  Carolina  of  his  division,  together  with  a 
squadron  of  the  Seventh  Virginia,  Rosser's  brigade,  to 
attack  on  the  right  flank."4 

Simultaneously  with  these  assaults  Rosser  pressed  his 
front.  The  Federals,  though  now  vigorously  attacked,  for 
some  time  stubbornly  held  their  ground.  Hampton's  well- 
formed  plan  of  attack,  seconded  by  the  persistent  valor  of 
the  Confederates,  finally  forced  the  enemy  to  give  way  at 
all  points,  leaving  his  dead  and  wounded  and  many  prison 
ers  in  the  hands  of  the  victors. 

In  the  beginning  of  this  action,  when  Rosser  first  struck 
the  enemy  on  his  left  and  rear,  the  Twelfth  was  in  front 
under  Col.  Thomas  Massie,  the  leading  squadron  consisting 
of  Companies  B  and  I  under  Lieut.  George  Baylor.  They 
first  reached  the  led  horses  and  pushed  through  them  until 
they  came  up  with  the  marching  column.  This  they  struck 
with  so  much  vigor  that  the  enemy,  surprised  and  broken, 
fell  back  rapidly  upon  Ashland,  where  dismounted  men, 
strongly  posted  in  some  houses  of  the  village,  received  the 
Confederates  with  a  galling  fire.  In  the  effort  to  dislodge 
these  men  some  lives  were  lost,  and  there  were  many  instan 
ces  of  valor  that  we  have  no  space  to  record. 


lHampton. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  247 

In  the  fight  that  now  ensued,  both  the  Seventh,  under 
Colonel  Dulany,  and  the  Eleventh,  under  Colonel  Beal,  bore 
conspicuous  parts.  Colonel  Dulany  had  two  horses  shot 
under  him.  At  one  time  during  the  battle  the  enemy,  hav 
ing  placed  dismounted  men  with  artillery  behind  the  rail 
road  embankment,  poured  deadly  volleys  into  the  ranks  of 
the  Confederates. 

Taking  advantage  of  an  apparent  confusion  in  Rosser's 
brigade,  their  mounted  squadrons  made  a  dash  at  a  column 
that  Rosser  was  bringing  up.  The  day  was  hot  and  the 
dust  fetlock  deep.  Coming  up  to  within  pistol  shot  the 
Federals,  seeing  Rosser's  defiant  attitude,  halted  and  began 
firing  their  carbines.  On  both  sides  there  was  apparent 
hesitation,  the  men  moving  about  restlessly  instead  of 
remaining  in  their  places  ready  to  obey  the  word  of  com 
mand.  Rosser,  as  usual,  in  the  forefront,  was  exhorting  the 
men  to  prepare  to  charge;  while  on  the  other  side,  the 
Federal  officers  were  urging  their  men  to  hold  firm.  The 
smoke  of  the  small  arms,  mingled  with  clouds  of  dust  from 
the  moving  horsemen,  added  to  the  confusion  of  the  scene. 

At  this  juncture  it  was  evident  that  the  action  of  one  man 
might  turn  the  scale  of  victory.  Maj.  Holmes  Conrad,1  on 


1Maj.  Holmes  Conrad,  major  and  inspector-general  of  the  Laurel 
Brigade,  when  the  State  of  Virginia  seceded,  enlisted  in  a  company  of 
cavalry  from  Frederick  County,  Va.,  commanded  by  Capt.  Jas.  W. 
Drake,  which  was  later  Company  A,  of  the  First  Virginia  Cavalry. 
The  same  day  he  was  made  first  lieutenant  of  the  company ;  was  made 
adjutant  of  the  Seventeenth  Battalion  August,  1862.  The  Seventeenth 
Battalion  was  the  nucleus  upon  which  was  developed  the  Eleventh 
Regiment  of  the  Laurel  Brigade. 

In  1864  he  was  commissioned  major  and  assistant  inspector-general 
of  Rosser's  Cavalry  Division. 

Major  Conrad  was  a  familiar  figure  to  the  men  who  were  at  the 
front  in  the  battles  of  the  Laurel  Brigade. 


248  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Rosser's  staff,  taking  in  the  situation,  seized  the  flag  of  the 
Eleventh  Regiment  and  exclaiming,  "Men,  save  your 
colors !"  rode  straight  at  the  Federal  column.  With  banner 
waving  he  penetrated  the  first  files,  and  turning  to  the  left 
he  escaped  unharmed.  Partly  from  the  clouds  of  dust,  and 
partly  from  astonishment  and  admiration  of  the  audacity  of 
Conrad,  the  foremost  Federals  failed  to  assault  him.  Their 
attention  was  immediately  engaged  by  the  onset  of  the 
grey  troopers,  who  followed  closely  upon  his  heels. 

The  "Bath  Squadron,"  under  Captain  Dangerfield  of  the 
Eleventh,  was  in  front.  Aroused  by  the  desperate  valor  of 
Conrad,  with  a  shout  they  charged,  and  soon  drove  the 
enemy  in  confusion  upon  his  main  body. 

When  Wilson  withdrew  beaten  from  the  field  of  Ash 
land,  Hampton  pushed  him  until  night,  when  he  drew  off. 
By  what  route  Wilson  withdrew  in  the  night  is  not  cer 
tainly  known,  but  from  Grant's  memoirs  it  is  found  that  he 
rejoined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  the  3rd  of  June. 

On  the  same  day,  Hampton  with  his  division  assaulted 
the  enemy  strongly  posted  behind  earthworks  near  Haw's 
Shop.  Dismounting  his  North  Carolina  Brigade,  under 
Colonel  Baker,  and  attacking  promptly,  Lee  carried  the 
outer  line.  In  this  engagement  Rosser  with  the  Laurel  Bri 
gade  seems  to  have  borne  a  part,  though  the  main  work  of 
the  day  was  performed  by  Lee's  North  Carolina  Brigade. 

On  the  next  day  Rosser  moved  with  the  brigade  to  the 
same  point  with  the  purpose  of  gaining  information.  Col 
onel  White  with  his  mounted  squadrons  was  ordered  to 
charge  the  earthworks.  With  great  gallantry  the  "Co- 
manches"  rode  up  to  and  along  the  fortifications,  discharg 
ing  their  pistols  at  the  enemy.  The  Federals,  astonished 


GENL.  WADE   HAMPTON 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  249 

at  the  audacity  of  the  Confederate  horsemen,  abandoned 
the  works,  and  some  of  White's  men  climbing  over,  or  at 
points  riding  through,  pursued  them  for  a  short  distance. 
So  daring  a  charge  excited  the  admiration  of  the  rest  of 
the  brigade,  and  Rosser's  cheers  for  the  "Comanches" 
were  joined  in  by  the  whole  command. 

There  was  now  for  some  time  a  calm  along  the  front. 
Grant's  punishment  at  Cold  Harbor,  had  strengthened  his 
conviction  that  Lee's  lines  could  not  be  broken  through,  no 
matter  what  sacrifice  of  life  he  was  willing  to  make  in  the 
attempt.  What,  therefore,  bullet  and  steel  could  not  accom 
plish  he  thought  starvation  might.  He,  therefore,  planned 
to  menace  Richmond  with  sufficient  force  to  keep  Lee's 
army  near  by;  while,  with  light  marching  divisions  of 
infantry  and  cavalry,  he  would  destroy  the  railroads,  and 
devastate  the  country  from  which  Lee  drew  his  supplies. 

The  vandal  Hunter  was  at  this  time  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  burning  and  destroying.  News  of  his  outrages  had 
reached  the  camp  of  the  Laurels,  and  there  was  manifested 
a  great  desire  to  go  to  the  defense  of  their  homes.  They 
also  had  heard  of  the  capture  of  Staunton,  and  the  death 
of  their  former  commander,  Genl.  W.  E.  Jones.  But,  there 
was  soon  quite  enough  close  at  hand,  to  engage  their  atten 
tion. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  "Sheridan  was  sent  with  two  divi 
sions  to  communicate  with  Hunter,  and  to  break  up  the 
Virginia  Central  Railroad  and  James  River  Canal."5  The 
intention,  as  was  evident  from  papers  which  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Confederates  afterwards,  was  that  Sheridan 
should  destroy  Charlottesville  and  Gordonsville,  with  the 


5Grant's  Memoirs. 


250  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

railroads  near  those  places,  and  then  unite  with  Hunter  in 
his  attack  on  Lynchburg.  He  had  with  him  about  8,900 
effective  men,  well  mounted.  With  flanking  squadrons 
scouring  the  country  for  fresh  horses,  he  proceeded  on  his 
mission  of  destruction  with  fine  promise  of  success. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  Hampton  with  his  own 
division  and  that  of  Fitz  Lee,  and  several  batteries  of  horse 
artillery,  was  sent  to  look  after  this  raiding  column.  The 
enemy  had  a  day's  start.  To  follow  in  his  wake  would  have 
been  to  invite  destruction  from  famine,  unless  he  could  be 
overtaken  before  the  pursuers'  rations  gave  out,  for  the 
track  of  Sheridan  was  like  that  left  by  a  cyclonic  hailstorm ; 
what  man  and  beast  did  not  devour  or  take  away,  was 
burnt  or  destroyed.  He  even  shot  his  own  broken-down 
horses.  Hampton,  therefore,  with  characteristic  foresight, 
sought  by  celerity  of  movement  to  get  ahead  of  the  raiding 
column  and  post  his  force  right  on  its  projected  line  of 
march.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  the  order  was  received  from 
Lee,  Hampton  with  his  own  division  moved  out  at  once  to 
get  between  Gordonsville  and  the  enemy,  ordering  Fitz  Lee 
to  follow  as  soon  as  possible. 

Outmarching  Sheridan,  Hampton  got  ahead  of  him,  and 
encamped  the  night  of  the  loth  in  Green  Spring  Valley, 
three  miles  beyond  Trevilians  Station,  on  the  Virginia  Cen 
tral  Railroad.  Fitz  Lee  encamped  the  same  night  near 
Louisa  Court  House. 

There  was  a  road  from  this  place  to  Trevilians  which 
Sheridan  was  expected  to  march  into  and  along  it  approach 
the  station. 

Hampton,  having  learned  during  the  night  that  Sheridan 
had  crossed  the  North  Anna,  determined  to  attack  him  at 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  251 

daylight.  Fitz  Lee  was  ordered  to  attack  on  the  road  lead 
ing  from  Louisa  Court  House  to  Clayton's  Store,  while 
Hampton,  with  his  own  division,  intended  to  move  against 
the  enemy  on  the  road  leading  from  Trevilians  Station  10 
the  same  point. 

"By  this  disposition,"  says  Hampton,  "I  hoped  to  cover 
Lee's  left  and  my  right  flank,  and  to  drive  the  enemy  back  if 
he  attempted  to  reach  Gordonsville,  by  passing  to  my  left, 
and  to  conceal  my  real  design,  which  was  to  strike  him  at 
Clayton's  Store  after  uniting  the  two  divisions." 

At  dawn  Hampton  was  ready  with  Butler's  and  Young's 
brigades  to  go  forward,  Rosser  with  his  command  having 
been  sent  to  cover  a  road  on  Hampton's  left. 

Soon  a  message  was  received  from  Fitz  Lee  that  he  was 
moving  out  to  attack,  and  Butler  immediately  advanced  to 
engage  the  enemy,  supported  by  Young. 

According  to  Hampton's  report,  the  Confederates  re 
pulsed  the  enemy  and  drove  him  behind  his  breastworks. 
According  to  Sheridan,  the  contrary  was  the  case.  Up  to 
nine  o'clock,  at  any  rate,  Hampton  pressed  the  enemy.  All 
seemed  to  be  going  well.  Fitz  Lee  was  momentarily 
expected  to  join  on  the  right,  but  Custer's  dash  materially 
changed  the  Confederates'  plans.  Instead  of  waiting  to  be 
pressed  by  Fitz  Lee,  Custer,  finding  an  unguarded  road 
leading  around  Hampton's  right  to  Trevilians  Station,  fol 
lowed  it  blindly.  Coming  upon  the  ambulances,  caissons, 
and  led  horses  of  the  division,  he  fell  upon  them  with  his 
accustomed  alacrity,  and  then  looked  around  to  see  what 
else  he  could  do.  Near  him  on  the  right  was  Thompson's 
Battery,  behind  Butler's  line,  and  ignorant  of  any  hostile 


252  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

movement  in  the  rear.    Custer  at  once  made  preparations  to 
take  it. 

Says  Col.  R.  P.  Chew,  commander  of  the  horse  artillery, 
who  was  present : 

"I  had  gone  to  the  position  occupied  by  General  Butler,  to 
select  a  position  for  artillery  to  aid  him  in  his  fight,  and  return 
ing  about  nine  o'clock  I  met  General  Hampton,  and  was 
informed  by  him  that  the  enemy  was  in  our  rear,  and  had 
captured  our  caissons  and  led  horses,  and  was  told  by  him  to  go 
back  and  do  the  best  I  could  with  the  guns. 

"Butler  was  at  this  time  hotly  engaged  in  front.  I  went  back 
rapidly  and  found  Custer's  men  advancing  from  the  rear  to 
capture  the  guns. 

"Fortunately  a  company  of  South  Carolina  cavalry  was 
formed  near  our  position,  which  charged  and  drove  back  the 
enemy.  I  then  moved  the  guns  to  a  hill  north  of  and  facing 
the  station.  They  were  without  support. 

"At  this  stage  of  affairs  Rosser,  who  was  on  the  Gordons- 
ville  Road  some  distance  off  to  the  left,  was  quickly  recalled  by 
Hampton  to  oppose  Custer.  He  returned  rapidly,  but  Custer 
was  now  trying  to  escape  with  his  captures,  by  going  off  the 
Gordonsville  Road  around  Butler  and  Young  and  the  horse 
artillery,  and  getting  through  on  their  left." 

From  his  new  position  Chew  opened  fire  on  the  column 
and  drove  them  back  on  the  station,  and  by  a  well-directed 
fire  delayed  its  escape  by  crippling  the  horses  and  stopping 
the  wagons.  After  considerable  delay  Custer  again  at 
tempted  to  escape  by  the  same  route,  but  Rosser  hearing 
the  firing,  brought  his  brigade  at  a  gallop  down  the  Gor 
donsville  Road,  and  wheeling  to  the  left  struck  Custer's  col 
umn  and  doubled  it  back  on  Fitz  Lee,  who  was  coming  up 
on  the  other  side  of  the  station,  and  who  attacking  vigor- 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  253 

ously,  pushed  that  part  of  Custer's  column  back,  recaptur 
ing  many  wagons  and  taking  five  caissons.  Some  idea  may 
be  formed  of  the  vigor  of  Lee's  attack  from  the  desperate 
charge  of  one  company  of  the  Sixth  Virginia,  known  as  the 
Clarke  Cavalry,  which  lost  in  a  single  charge  upon  a  Fed 
eral  battery  more  than  half  its  number. 

The  well-timed  assault  of  Rosser  was  made  in  double 
column,  the  Eleventh  in  front  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and 
White  in  front  on  the  left. 

To  the  Laurels,  success  meant  more  than  victory.  The 
enemy  had  captured  the  division  trains  and  many  prisoners. 
His  presence  for  a  moment  in  Hampton's  rear  meant  gen 
eral  disaster.  What  was  to  be  done,  had  to  be  done  quickly. 
Seldom  did  a  duty  of  heavy  responsibility  where  prompt 
ness  of  decision  in  the  leader,  and  ready  valor  in  the  men 
was  needed,  fall  upon  a  command  better  fitted  to  perform  it. 
With  well-closed  ranks  and  steady  gallop,  the  Laurels  fol 
lowed  Rosser  towards  the  point  where  the  firing  indicated 
the  presence  of  the  enemy.  A  glance  at  the  victorious  Fed 
erals,  accompanied  with  captured  trains  and  ambulances 
filled  with  prisoners,  only  quickened  the  rush  as  the  brigade 
swept  with  shouts  to  the  rescue. 

The  bluecoats,  who,  following  the  adventurous  Custer, 
had  by  a  wild  dash  created  a  momentary  panic  in  the  Con 
federates'  rear,  were  now  in  their  turn  surprised,  and  the 
impetuous  charge  of  the  grey  troopers  soon  put  Custer  to 
precipitate  flight.  Wagons,  prisoners,  and  precious  plunder 
were  now  quickly  abandoned,  and  the  marching  column 
soon  scattered  in  many  directions.  The  pursuit  of  the  fugi 
tives,  many  of  whom  had  taken  for  shelter  to  the  woods, 
left  Rosser's  force  somewhat  diminished.  The  main  body 


254  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

of  the  enemy  fell  back  towards  the  station,  hotly  pursued 
by  the  Confederates.  Here,  forming  his  men  with  artillery 
commanding  the  approaches,  Custer  stood  at  bay,  while 
Rosser,  putting  his  regiments  in  order  and  gathering  his 
men,  made  ready  to  attack  him. 

Colonel  Chew,  who  had  counted  Custer' s  men  as  they 
passed  in  front  of  his  battery,  now  informed  Rosser  that 
Custer  had  only  about  1,200  men,  and  that  by  promptly 
charging  he  could  capture  them. 

Rosser,  especially  eager  to  discomfort  the  vainglorious 
Custer,  ordered  White  to  charge.  Just  then  Hampton  rode 
up  and  forbade  the  movement. 

Custer  remained  at  Trevilians  assisted,  doubtless,  by  the 
advance  of  Sheridan's  whole  force  on  Hampton's  right 
flank. 

Butler  and  Young  fell  back,  and  they,  with  Rosser,  were 
posted  by  Hampton  along  a  new  line  to  the  west  of  the 
station  and  facing  Sheridan. 

The  enemy  in  the  evening  made  several  attempts  to  dis 
lodge  Hampton  from  his  new  position,  but  without  success. 

After  the  repulse  of  one  of  these  assaults  Rosser,  still 
believing  that  a  bold  charge  would  drive  Custer  from  his 
position,  had  just  begun  the  perilous  task  when  he  was 
badly  wounded.6  This  put  a  stop  to  the  movement.  The 
command  of  the  brigade  now  devolved  upon  Col.  R.  H. 
Dulany  of  the  Seventh.  The  remainder  of  the  day  was 
spent  in  repelling  Sheridan's  assaults  upon  Hampton's 
new  line. 


GSays  Hampton  in  his  report,  "In  the  list  of  wounded  was  Brigadier- 
General  Rosser,  who  received  a  painful  wound  whilst  charging  at  the 
head  of  his  brigade." 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  255 

Night  closed  the  scene,  and  after  dark  both  sides  began  to 
entrench  preparatory  to  the  next  day's  decisive  struggle. 

At  dawn  the  combatants  were  in  position,  and  until 
twelve  o'clock  stood  facing  each  other. 

Fitz  Lee,  who  on  the  previous  day  attacked  Custer 
beyond  the  station,  and  recaptured  many  wagons  and  pris 
oners,  now  swung  around  and  about  twelve  o'clock  con 
nected  with  Hampton.  His  division  was  placed  in  a 
position  to  support  Hampton's  division  in  case  the  enemy 
attacked  Hampton's  right. 

About  three  o'clock  Sheridan  began  a  series  of  heavy 
assaults.  His  dismounted  men,  armed  with  repeating 
rifles,  had  an  immense  advantage  over  the  Confederate 
sharpshooters,  who  had  to  be  content  with  the  ordinary 
carbines  or  muskets.  Many  of  their  carbines  were  of  Con 
federate  make,  and  were  nearly  as  dangerous  to  the  man 
behind  as  to  the  enemy  in  front. 

As  the  fighting  this  clay  wras  chiefly  on  foot,  and  the 
woods  at  places  furnished  good  cover,  the  incessant  fire  of 
the  assailing  Federals,  called  for  heroic  powers  of  resist 
ance  on  the  part  of  the  poorly-armed  Confederates.  The 
brunt  of  the  fight  fell  on  Butler's  brigade  and  the  horse 
artillery,  and  they  proved  equal  to  the  occasion,  repelling 
with  stubborn  courage  all  the  assaults  of  the  enemy. 

The  nature  of  the  ground  prevented  much  use  of  the 
enemy's  artillery,  while  the  Confederate  position  was  excel 
lent  in  this  respect,  though  from  its  being  in  the  open  field 
and  near  the  enemy,  the  gunners  were  much  exposed  to  the 
deadly  aim  of  the  sharpshooters. 

A  space  of  only  250  yards  was  between  the  lines.  The 
Confederate  gunners  lay  close  to  the  ground,  and  only  rose 


256  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

when  the  Federals  charged.  The  colors  of  Thompson's 
Battery  were  riddled  with  bullets,  and  around  a  single  piece 
nine  men  were  killed  or  wounded,  among  them  the  color- 
bearer. 

The  fighting  continued  until  after  nightfall,  when  the 
flash  of  the  guns  lifting  for  a  moment  the  veil  of  darkness, 
revealed  the  position  of  the  on-coming  enemy. 

In  the  meantime  Fitz  Lee,  directed  by  Hampton,  rein 
forced  Butler's  left  with  Wickham's  brigade,  while  he  took 
Lomax's  brigade  across  to  the  Gordonsville  Road,  so  as  to 
strike  the  enemy  on  his  right  flank. 

Says  Hampton  with  laconic  brevity,  "This  movement 
was  successful." 

Desperately  did  Sheridan  struggle  to  force  Hampton 
from  his  path.  But  with  greater  resolution  did  the  Confed 
erate  leader  maintain  his  ground  against  the  superior  num 
bers  of  his  opponent. 

Under  the  cover  of  darkness  Sheridan  began  to  retreat, 
and  by  morning  was  far  on  his  way  back  to  Grant's  army, 
leaving  behind  him  his  dead  and  many  of  his  wounded. 
Grant  explains  in  his  memoirs  (Vol.  II,  page  302)  that 
"Sheridan  went  back,  because  the  enemy  has  taken  posses 
sion  of  a  crossing  by  which  he  proposed  to  go  west,  and 
because  he  had  heard  that  Hunter  was  not  at  Charlottes- 
ville."  This,  however,  will  hardly  explain  his  hurried  re 
treat,  and  the  abandonment  of  his  dead  and  wounded. 

He  could  not  have  thought  of  going  to  Charlottesville, 
when  it  was  as  much  as  he  could  do  to  give  Hampton  the 
slip,  and  get  back  to  Grant's  infantry.  This,  however,  he 
did  without  being  vigorously  pursued  by  Hampton,  though 


LIEUT.    PHILIP    B.    WINSTON 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  257 

it  was  evident  that  the  Federals  had  retreated  very  hur 
riedly. 

Hampton,  in  his  report,  says : 

"In  the  meantime  Fitz  Lee  reinforced  the  left  with  Wick- 
ham's  brigade,  while  he  took  Lomax's  brigade  across  the  Gor- 
donsville  Road  to  strike  the  enemy  on  his  left  flank.  Sheridan 
now  heavily  pressed  in  front  and  attacked  on  the  left,  fell  back 
hurriedly!' 

Sheridan's  report  is  disingenuous,  and  indeed  lacks  the 
internal  evidence  of  truth.  For  instance,  he  accounts  for 
the  loss  of  some  caissons  by  saying,  "When  the  enemy 
broke  they  hurried  between  General  Ouster's  command  and 
Colonel  Grigg's,  capturing  five  caissons  of  Remington's 
Battery." 

This  is  perhaps  the  only  instance  in  the  annals  of  war, 
where  the  victor  lost  caissons  because  the  enemy  ran  away. 

On  the  1 3th,  the  brigade  with  Hampton  followed  on  after 
Sheridan  to  the  North  Anna,  and  down  the  river  to  a  point 
opposite  Frederick  Hall. 

As  an  evidence  of  what  the  cavalry  suffered  now  for  lack 
of  food  and  forage,  the  following  extracts  from  the  diary 
of  a  soldier  of  the  Laurel  Brigade  will  be  of  interest. 

"May  I4th.  Lay  still  all  day;  no  rations.  Ewell  is  at 
Frederick  Hall. 

"i5th.  Crossed  North  Anna  at  Caws  Bridge,  moved  along 
very  slowly,  reached  our  stopping  place  after  dark,  and  fooled 
around  till  late  hunting  grass.  No  rations  yet. 

"i6th.  Drew  two  crackers  and  a  little  meat ;  nothing  for  the 
horses.  Marched  all  day  on  the  county  roads ;  borrowed  a  few 
rations  from  another  command  for  us.  No  corn  tonight  and 
not  a  particle  of  grass ;  camped  after  dark. 


258  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

"i7th.  Grazed  the  horses  a  little  this  morning;  wagons  with 
corn  and  rations  expected,  but  no  one  seems  to  know  anything 
definite  about  them.  The  dust  is  three  inches  deep  every 
where,  and  the  sun  broiling  hot. 

"i8th.  No  wagons  yet,  the  men  are  suffering  very  much 
for  rations,  and  have  been  for  several  days.  Drew  plenty  of 
corn.  Moved  back  on  Wickham's  Farm  on  the  Pamunkey 
River,  where  we  found  the  long  expected  wagons  with  four 
days'  rations.  Two  squadrons  have  been  without  rations  since 
the  1 2th."6 

While  Sheridan  failed  to  unite  with  Hunter,  or  to  do 
much  damage  to  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  there  was 
one  part  of  Grant's  program  for  crushing  the  Confederacy 
which  Sheridan  never  failed  to  carry  out.  That  was  to 
ravage  the  country  through  which  he  passed,  destroying  or 
carrying  off  everything  possible  to  be  removed.  Grant's 
object,  as  a  war  measure,  was  to  starve  out  the  men  whom 
he  could  not  beat  in  the  field,  reduce  Richmond  to  the  point 
of  starvation,  and  thus  decrease  the  efficiency  of  Lee's  army. 

Whatever  may  be  said  of  Sheridan  as  a  fighter,  no  one 
can  deny  that  as  a  ravager  he  was  not  wanting  in  the  ele 
ments  of  success.  While  he  had  not  yet  quite  mastered  this 
method  of  restoring  the  amity  of  a  disunited  country,  he 
was  learning  fairly  well,  from  those  two  past  masters  in 
that  art,  Generals  William  Tecumseh  Sherman  and  David 
Hunter.  It  is  fair  to  say,  by  way  of  classification,  that  the 
ravaging  of  Sheridan  was  somewhat  systematic  and  pur 
poseful,  being  part  of  an  avowed  military  plan.  That  of 
Sherman  in  his  march  through  Georgia  was  brutal  and 
wanton;  while  that  of  David  Hunter  in  the  Valley  of  Vir 
ginia  was  absolutely  heinous  and  devilish. 


°From  the  Diary  of  Private  Joseph  L.  Sherrard. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  259 

Hampton  did  not  give  Sheridan  much  time  to  make  way 
with  property  as  he  went  along,  but  he  did  the  best  he  could 
under  the  circumstances.  He  gathered  up  all  the  horses 
his  flanking  column  could  find,  and  when  one  of  his  own 
gave  out  he  had  it  shot,  lest  some  one  of  the  farmers  he  had 
tried  to  ruin  might  use  the  animal  to  raise  a  crop  for  his 
family. 

On  the  2Oth  Hampton  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  White 
House,  and  had  a  small  engagement  with  some  infantry 
and  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  assisted  by  their  gunboats  on  the 
Pamunkey. 

During  the  night  Sheridan  crossed  over  and  marched 
towards  the  James,  with  his  force  much  increased  by 
infantry. 

Hampton,  after  skirmishing  with  him  the  best  part  of 
the  day,  withdrew  towards  evening  and  encamped  at 
Bottom's  bridge,  on  the  Chickahominy. 

Sheridan,  who  was  in  full  retreat,  was  acting  as  rear 
guard  for  Grant,  \vho  on  the  night  of  the  2ist  began  the 
operation  of  transferring  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  across 
the  James  River,  the  bulk  of  which  was  already  on  the 
south  side. 

For  two  or  three  days  Hampton  hung  on  Sheridan's 
flank,  but  without  accomplishing  any  serious  results.  The 
starved  condition  of  the  Confederate  horses  had  greatly 
reduced  the  efficiency  of  the  brigade.  The  sore-backed  and 
broken-down  animals  were  sent  to  the  rear  for  rest,  and 
with  the  remainder  of  the  command,  a  large  portion  being 
now  dismounted,  Colonel  Dulany,  commanding  the  bri 
gade,  had  to  engage  in  almost  daily  fights  with  the  enemy. 


260  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

On  the  24th  the  command  was  roused  up  at  two  o'clock, 
and  lay  in  a  field  near  Samaria  Church  until  morning.  The 
pickets  had  been  driven  in  and  there  was  expectations  of  an 
advance  of  the  Federals. 

Sheridan,  however,  had  begun  to  throw  up  earthworks 
with  the  obvious  design  of  holding  his  ground,  and  Hamp 
ton  immediately  formed  his  plan  of  attack;  arranging  to 
have  the  brigades  of  Gary  and  Chambliss  to  assault  in  flank, 
while  the  rest  of  his  command  pressed  in  front. 

As  soon  as  Gary  had  engaged  the  enemy,  Chambliss  was 
thrown  forward,  and  by  a  movement  handsomely  executed 
connected  with  him.  At  the  same  moment  the  whole  line, 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Maj.-Genl.  Fitz  Lee, 
charged  the  works  of  the  enemy,  who,  after  fighting  stub 
bornly  for  a  short  time,  gave  way,  leaving  his  dead  and 
wounded  on  the  field. 

This  advance  of  our  troops  was  made  in  the  face  of  a 
heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry,  and  it  was  most  hand 
somely  accomplished. 

In  the  charge  of  the  works,  the  Eleventh  and  the  Seventh 
regiments  participated,  White's  Battalion  being  absent  on 
detached  service. 

The  Twelfth,  being  mounted,  joined  in  the  pursuit  of 
the  retreating  Federals,  driving  them  for  three  miles.  In 
this  charge  Lieut.-Col.  T.  B.  Massie,  commanding  the 
Twelfth,  was  wounded  while  gallantly  leading  his  men  over 
the  works  of  the  enemy. 

Sheridan  was  completely  routed,  and  his  broken  and  fly 
ing  columns  pursued  to  within  two  and  a  half  miles  of 
Charles  City  Court  House.  Hampton  captured  157  prison 
ers,  including  one  colonel  and  twelve  commissioned  officers, 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  261 

while  a  considerable  number  of  Federal  dead  and  wounded 
was  left  on  the  field.  Thus  foiled  and  defeated  at  Tre- 
vilians,  severely  punished  at  the  White  House,  and  routed 
at  Samaria  Church  from  a  chosen  position  defended  by 
earthworks,  Sheridan  very  wisely  concluded  to  rejoin  Grant 
as  soon  as  possible.  This  he  speedily  did,  falling  back  to 
the  James  River  under  protection  of  gunboats,  and  crossing 
to  the  south  side. 

The  loss  in  Hampton's  division  was  six  killed  and  fifty- 
nine  wounded. 


CHAPTER  X 

June,    1864 

Hampton  marches  towards  Richmond — Federals  cross  to  south  side  of 
James  River,  and  Hampton  follows,  crossing  near  Drury's  Bluff — 
Moves  below  Petersburg — Camp  near  Reams  Station — Intercepts 
Wilson's  raiders,  and  sharp  fight  near  Sapony  Church — Lieuten 
ant  Vandiver's  account  of  the  engagement — Ruffian  marauders — 
Wilson  escapes  after  punishment  and  loss — A  short  rest,  water 
melons  and  hospitality — Brigade  recuperates  by  return  of  men 
from  hospitals  and  horse  furloughs — Fitz  Lee  with  his  division 
sent  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley — Hampton  kept  to  hold  the  lines  on 
Lee's  right — Grant  creates  a  diversion  on  the  north  side  of  the 
James — Hampton  ordered  to  Culpeper,  but  was  recalled  when  he 
reached  Beaver  Dam — Fight  at  White  Oak  Swamp — Brigade 
returns  to  south  side — Monk  Neck's  Bridge — Hatcher's  Run — 
Reams  Station — The  newspaper  raid — Hampton's  cattle  raid. 

On  June  the  25th  Hampton  withdrew,  moving  towards 
Richmond,  but  following  the  farm  roads  lest  the  dust  on  the 
highway  might  subject  his  column  to  a  shelling  from  the 
gunboats  on  the  James. 

Passing  by  Frazier's  Farm  and  Malvern  Hill  the  weary 
soldiers  halted  and  encamped  within  five  miles  of  Rich 
mond.  Next  day  they  crossed  the  James  near  Drury's 
Bluff. 

On  the  2/th  the  brigade  moved  towards  Petersburg. 
That  city  was  now  invested  by  Grant  and  was  being  vigor 
ously  shelled.  The  brigade  did  not  pass  through  the  town, 
but  around  it,  on  account  of  the  bombardment.  Some  of 
the  soldiers  ventured  to  pass  through  and  were  astonished 
to  find  people  going  about  on  the  streets  as  if  nothing  was 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  263 

going  on.  Such  incessant  warfare,  bringing  grief  into 
almost  every  home,  had  inured  even  the  women  and  chil 
dren  to  its  dangers  and  hardships. 

The  trains  running  out  from  Petersburg  were  regularly 
shelled,  but  they  moved  along  on  schedule  time,  apparently 
indifferent  to  the  shots  of  the  Federal  artillery. 

After  dark  the  brigade  went  into  camp  near  Reams 
Station,  on  the  Weldon  Railroad.  The  horses  had  nothing 
but  one  sheaf  of  green  oats  apiece  during  the  day,  and  were 
also  much  jaded  with  the  long  and  dusty  march. 

Early  next  morning  the  command  moved  out  and  halted 
in  an  oat  field  to  feed.  It  was  now  known  to  the  soldiers 
that  Hampton  was  making  an  effort  to  intercept  a  raiding 
column  of  two  brigades  under  Wilson  which  had  been 
destroying  a  part  of  the  Weldon  Railroad  and  devastating 
the  surrounding  country.  Wilson  was  known  to  be  on  his 
return  and  endeavoring  to  rejoin  the  army  of  Grant.  The 
difficulty  was  to  ascertain  by  which  route  he  was  coming. 

Hampton,  however,  had  his  plans  well  laid,  and  with 
pickets  on  all  the  roads  and  scouts  scouring  the  country 
around,  the  men  were  ordered  to  sleep  on  their  arms.  There 
was  not  much  sleep  for  some  of  them.  The  brigade  had 
halted  near  Sapony  Church,  and  soon  after  dark  picket 
firing  was  heard,  and  every  one  knew  that  Wilson  was  try 
ing  to  break  by. 

His  first  assault,  which  was  on  a  part  of  the  line  held  by 
Chambliss'  brigade,  after  some  stubborn  fighting  was 
repulsed.  The  Seventh  seems  to  have  been  the  only  regi 
ment  of  the  Laurel  Brigade  that  participated  in  the  repulse. 

Says  Lieutenant  Vandiver  of  Company  F,  Seventh  Reg 
iment,  who  lost  an  arm  in  this  fight :  "Mounting  hurriedly 


264  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

and  forming"  in  line  the  Seventh  went  forward  at  a  trot, 
while  the  distant  picket  firing  on  the  road  south  of  Sapony 
Church  told  what  was  going  on.  The  Federals  had  forced 
the  pickets  in  at  a  gallop,  and  the  Seventh  was  ordered  to 
dismount  and  fight  on  foot.  The  regiment  had  barely  time 
to  get  in  position  on  the  left  of  the  road  and  church,  in  fact 
it  formed  under  fire.  It  was  then  dark,  and  the  bullets  and 
shells  went  over  the  heads  of  the  men.  The  men  carried 
rails  and  everything  movable  in  reach  to  make  breastworks, 
and  in  less  than  thirty  minutes  after  the  dismounted  men 
were  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  hottest  battles  of  the  cam 
paign." 

Lieutenant  Vandiver  was  at  that  time  commanding  Com 
pany  F  of  the  Seventh,  being  the  only  officer  with  the 
company,  Captain  Kuykendall  and  Lieutenant  Parker  then 
being  prisoners.  On  account  of  the  absence  of  the  regular 
commander  Lieutenant  Vandiver  was  assigned  the  com 
mand  of  the  second  Squadron  dismounted. 

The  battle  raged  furiously,  and  the  Federals  were  so 
near  the  Confederate  lines  that  their  forms  could  be  seen  by 
the  flash  of  the  discharges,  and  the  commands  "Forward !" 
"Close  up !"  etc.,  given  by  their  officers  were  distinctly 
heard.  But  they  would  not  advance  to  closer  quarters, 
although  outnumbering  the  Confederates  three  to  one.  The 
continual  discharge  of  small  arms  was  interspersed  with 
artillery  firing,  and  the  shells  exploding  over  the  heads  of 
the  men  caused  great  confusion  among  the  led  horses  and 
mounted  men  in  the  rear  of  our  line  of  battle. 

The  attack  on  Chambliss  continued  until  nearly  daylight. 
At  one  o'clock,  and  again  at  three,  the  brigade  was  aroused 
by  the  noise  of  the  combat. 


MAJ.  'F.   M.   MYERS 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  265 

About  daylight  all  was  astir  and  the  men  formed  in  line 
dismounted.  Colonel  Dulany  swung  his  command  around 
and  participated  in  a  vigorous  assault  on  the  Federal  left 
flank.  They  were  driven  in  disorder,  many  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  Confederates. 

In  the  meantime  White's  Battalion  went  with  General 
Butler  to  fall  upon  the  enemy's  rear;  and  simultaneously 
with  Chambliss'  attack  in  front  and  that  of  Dulany  and 
others  on  the  left  flank  White's  mounted  men  charged. 
Pressed  in  front  and  flank,  the  Federals  scattered  through 
the  pines,  and  broke  away  to  the  right,  leaving  800  prison 
ers  in  the  hands  of  the  victors. 

The  plunder  thrown  away  by  the  fugitives  was  of  many 
kinds,  and  is  worthy  of  notice  as  indicating,  not  only  that 
these  raiding  columns  had  all  the  license  of  pirates,  but  that 
plunder  was  one  of  the  chief  objects  of  their  raids.  The' 
license  to  plunder  served  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  raiding 
regiments  for  the  time  being  with  professional  marauders 
and  cutthroats.  Over  the  field  of  flight  were  found  shawls, 
silk  dresses,  mantles  of  velvet,  jewelry,  and  every  kind  of 
light  valuables  to  be  found  in  the  houses  of  well-to-do 
people. 

The  war,  now  that  the  Confederacy  was  declining,  had 
become  popular  with  the  ruffian  classes  of  the  North,  and 
many  entered  the  army  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  steal 
and  plunder. 

After  pursuing  Wilson's  column  for  some  eight  or  ten 
miles  the  command  returned  to  Stony  Creek. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3Oth  the  pursuit  was  again  taken 
up,  but  Wilson,  after  running  against  infantry  and  cavalry 


266  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

in  turn,  and  retreating  by  way  of  obscure  country  roads,  at 
last  got  by  with  a  remnant  of  his  division  and  rejoined 
Grant's  army. 

From  the  4th  of  July  until  the  3Oth  there  was  little  more 
than  picketing.  Quiet  reigned  along  the  lines  and  the  caval 
rymen  had  time  to  rest  and  recruit.  The  fishing  in  the 
streams  was  fine  and  the  country  abounded  in  melons  and 
luscious  fruit.  The  land  of  that  section  appeared  sterile  to 
the  eye,  but  nevertheless  it  furnished  bountiful  supplies  for 
the  table,  and  in  the  plain  but  spacious  homes  of  the  land- 
holding  people  there  was  dispensed  a  generous  hospitality. 
Three  weeks  of  comparative  rest  did  wonders  for  the  men 
and  horses.  Many  of  the  sick  and  wounded  had  returned. 
Many  of  the  dismounted  had  returned  from  "horse  fur 
lough"  with  fresh  horses.  The  improved  appearance  of 
the  command  was  noticeable,  and  once  more  the  men  were 
in  good  spirits.  What  if  Grant  was  besieging  Richmond, 
was  not  Early  at  the  gates  of  Washington?  The  vandal 
Hunter  had  done  his  worst  in  the  Valley,  and  was  now  with 
his  stolen  goods  flying  through  the  hills  of  West  Virginia. 
The  dark  cloud  in  Georgia  was  then  no  bigger  than  a  man's 
hand,  and  few  dreamed  to  what  dimensions  it  would  grow 
before  another  winter  set  in. 

The  3Oth  of  July  was  the  day  selected  by  Grant  for  blow 
ing  up  a  part  of  the  Confederate  works  and  the  capture  of 
Petersburg. 

In  order  to  divert  a  considerable  part  of  Lee's  army 
away  from  the  south  side  of  the  James  River,  Grant  now 


Maj.  F.  M.  Myers,  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Battalion,  was  formerly 
captain  of  Company  A,  Thirty-fifth  Battalion,  and  afterwards  pro 
moted  to  major  of  the  battalion,  succeeding  Maj.  Geo.  N.  Ferneyhough. 
He  was  a  courageous  and  efficient  officer. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  267 

began  a  demonstration  on  the  north  side  with  Hancock's 
corps  and  Sheridan's  cavalry.  The  news  of  this  called  most 
of  Lee's  cavalry  into  the  saddle,  but  the  collapse  of  the 
scheme  in  a  few  days  restored  the  soldiers  to  their  camps. 
Every  attempt  of  Grant  to  assault  Lee's  lines  ended  in  com 
plete  discomfiture. 

In  the  early  part  of  August  Fitz  Lee  was  sent  with  his 
division  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  Hampton  with  his 
own  division  and  that  of  W.  F.  Lee  was  left  to  hold  the 
lines  to  the  right  of  Lee's  infantry. 

On  the  nth  of  August  Hampton  was  ordered  by  Lee  to 
proceed  with  his  division  to  Culpeper  and  report  to  Genl. 
R.  H.  Anderson,  commanding  in  that  quarter.  Lee's  object 
was  to  threaten  the  enemy's  flank  and  rear  should  he  move 
across  the  Blue  Ridge. 

In  obedience  to  command  Hampton  marched  his  division 
northward,  passing  through  Richmond  August  I3th.  At 
Beaver  Dam  he  received  a  telegraphic  despatch  from  Lee 
recalling  him.  Before  daylight  on  the  i4th  he  began  to 
retrace  his  steps,  and  at  ten  o'clock  the  next  day  brought  his 
command  to  the  support  of  Genl.  W.  F.  Lee,  who  was  then 
being  heavily  attacked  at  White's  Tavern,  eight  miles  below 
Richmond. 

Grant,  in  order  to  prevent  Lee  from  sending  reinforce 
ments  to  Early,  had  made  another  demonstration  north  of 
the  James. 

W.  F.  Lee's  right  was  being  forced  back  when  Hampton 
arrived  and  took  a  small  part  in  the  repulse  of  the  enemy 
by  W.  F.  Lee's  division.  It  was  here  that  General  Cham- 
bliss  was  killed  while  gallantly  rallying  his  men. 


268  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

On  the  morning  of  the  i8th  it  looked  as  though  serious 
work  was  at  hand.  The  bugle  called  to  horse  at  two  o'clock 
A.  M.  At  seven  the  brigade  moved  out,  the  Eleventh  Reg 
iment  in  front. 

Lee  had  ordered  Hampton  to  attack  the  enemy  in  his 
front.  General  Fields,  commanding  the  left  of  the  infantry, 
was  directed  to  co-operate  in  the  movement. 

W.  F.  Lee's  division  attacked  on  the  Charles  City  Road. 
Butler  with  his  own  and  Rosser's  brigade,  under  Col.  R.  H. 
Dulany,  on  the  left,  while  Fields  with  his  infantry  pressed 
the  enemy  in  front.  Delay  occurring  in  getting  the  forces 
in  position,  the  attack  was  not  begun  until  evening. 

W.  F.  Lee  drove  the  enemy  some  distance  in  his  front, 
and  Butler  made  a  most  successful  attack  on  his  right,  when 
with  the  assistance  of  Rosser's  brigade,  under  the  command 
of  Col.  R.  H.  Dulany,  he  drove  the  Federals  from  their 
breastworks  and  pursued  them  two  miles.  There  were  cap 
tured  in  this  affair  167  prisoners.  The  Federals  during  the 
night  withdrew  and  recrossed  the  James,  and  Hampton  was 
accordingly  ordered  by  Lee  to  return  to  the  south  side  and 
re-establish  his  picket  line  in  front  of  Reams  Station. 

Grant  having  extended  his  left  flank  far  enough  to  get 
possession  of  a  part  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  was  now 
attempting  to  destroy  the  part  south  of  him.  For  this  pur 
pose  Hancock's  corps  and  Gregg's  division  of  cavalry,  on 
the  2 ist  of  August,  were  sent  to  the  neighborhood  of  Reams 
Station. 

Hampton's  division  was  moving  towards  the  same  point 
when  on  the  23rd  of  August  the  enemy  was  encountered  at 
Monk  Neck's  Bridge,  two  miles  west  of  the  station,  on  the 
Rowanty  Creek.  Butler  here  attacked  them  in  position  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  269 

had  a  severe  engagement.  He  succeeded,  however,  in  driv 
ing  back  the  enemy,  a  division  of  infantry,  and  in  establish 
ing  the  picket-line. 

As  this  was  a  pitched  encounter  between  Confederate 
cavalry  and  Federal  infantry  aided  by  cavalry,  in  which  the 
latter  after  a  stubborn  contest  were  badly  worsted,  it 
deserves  full  space.  But  the  story  can  only  be  told  from 
the  standpoint  of  the  Laurels,  some  of  whom  speak  of  the 
contest  with  great  and  commendable  pride. 

In  this  action  the  brigade  was  still  commanded  by  Col. 
R.  H.  Dulany,  General  Rosser  not  having  sufficiently 
recovered  from  the  wound  received  at  Trevilians  to  resume 
command. 

On  the  23rd  the  command  moved  down  the  Stage  Road 
to  meet  the  enemy.  Upon  reaching  Hatcher's  Run  there 
were  the  usual  signs  of  a  recent  fight.  Broken  ambulances 
and  dead  horses  lined  the  road. 

Very  soon  the  enemy  was  found,  and  the  Seventh  Regi 
ment,  which  was  in  front,  was  forced  back.  The  bulk  of  the 
Seventh  and  Eleventh  regiments  and  a  part  of  the  Twelfth, 
under  Lieut.  George  Baylor,  were  now  dismounted  and 
deployed  on  each  side  of  the  road,  White's  Battalion  and 
the  Twelfth  remaining  mounted. 

White's  First  Squadron  joined  General  Butler  on  his 
right.  The  dismounted  men  of  the  Eleventh,  under  Maj. 
E.  H.  McDonald,  advanced  on  the  left  side  of  the  road, 
while  the  Seventh,  under  Col.  Thomas  Marshall,  advanced 
on  the  right. 

The  movement  at  first  was  through  a  woodland,  and  the 
Federals  being  mounted,  retired  before  the  Confederate 
advance.  After  following  them  for  half  a  mile  the  latter 


270  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

reached  the  end  of  the  woods,  and  before  them  lay  an  open 
field  across  which  at  a  distance  of  500  yards,  was  distinctly 
seen  a  line  of  breastworks  occupied  by  infantry.  Halting 
at  the  edge  of  the  woods  behind  a  dilapidated  rail  fence, 
the  Seventh  and  Eleventh  lay  down. 

For  half  an  hour  the  Federals  waited  for  an  attack.  Then 
a  considerable  force,  apparently  a  brigade,  moved  out  and 
took  position  on  the  left  of  the  line  occupied  by  the  Elev 
enth.  The  design  of  the  enemy  was  plainly  to  execute  a 
flank  movement  and  take  the  Eleventh  in  reverse ;  but  there 
were  no  orders  to  fall  back  and  the  Confederates  grimly 
awaited  the  issue. 

Presently  the  enemy  advanced  in  heavy  force  beyond 
their  breastworks  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the  fence 
behind  which  lay  the  Confederates.  A  withering  fire  met 
them,  but  they  fell  flat  on  the  ground  and,  partly  concealed 
by  the  grass,  poured  volley  after  volley  into  the  thin  lines  of 
the  dismounted  men.  Attacked  by  greatly  superior  num 
bers,  and  threatened  by  the  brigade  of  infantry  on  their 
left,  the  Confederates  fell  back  through  the  woods.  Soon 
they  met  General  Butler  bringing  up  a  South  Carolina  bri 
gade.  Hastily  reforming  they  resumed  their  old  position 
under  a  heavy  fire,  and  the  battle  raged  furiously. 

The  flanking  brigade  of  Federals  swung  around  on  But 
ler's  left,  and  the  South  Carolinians,  pressed  in  front  and 
flank,  after  heroic  efforts  were  forced  to  retire.  This  neces 
sitated  the  falling  back  of  the  Confederate  line  of  dis 
mounted  men  which  was  under  command  of  Maj.  E.  H. 
McDonald. 

The  Federal  commander,  seizing  his  opportunity, 
ordered  forward  a  squadron  of  horse  that  now  rode  among 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  271 

the  disordered  Confederates,  and  pressed  on,  endeav 
oring  to  stampede  Dulany's  reserves.  But  this  proved  not 
so  easy  a  task.  Their  charge  was  met  with  a  countercharge, 
and  the  beaten  Federals  in  a  few  moments  \vere  seen  by  the 
dismounted  men  returning  hotly  pursued  by  the  grey 
troopers. 

Butler,  now  readjusting  his  lines,  forced  the  Federals 
behind  their  breastworks,  where  they  remained.  He  was  un 
able  to  dislodge  them  without  the  aid  of  infantry,  although 
the  fighting  continued  until  after  dark,  heavy  volleys  of 
musketry  at  intervals  breaking  the  stillness  of  the  night. 

The  next  day  was  one  of  comparative  quiet. 

The  success  of  Butler  at  Monk  Neck's  Bridge  suggested 
to  Hampton  the  feasibility  of  driving  the  Federals  from 
their  works  at  Reams  Station.  His  plan  of  attack  was  com 
municated  to  General  Lee  and  concurred  in. 

General  Heth's  division  of  infantry  was  ordered  to  co-op 
erate  with  Hampton,  and  Genl.  A.  P.  Hill  was  sent  to  take 
command  of  the  expedition. 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th,  Hampton  moved  out  with 
his  two  divisions  of  cavalry  under  Generals  Butler  and  Bar- 
ringer.  After  disposing  part  of  his  command  so  as  to  cover 
Hill's  advance,  with  the  remainder,  including  the  Eleventh 
and  Twelfth  regiments,  and  White's  Battalion,  he  crossed 
Malone's  Bridge  at  nine  A.  M.  and  drove  in  the  enemy's 
pickets.  Following  up  these  he  encountered  a  heavy  force 
of  Federals  strongly  posted.  After  a  sharp  fight  the  enemy 
fell  back  rapidly  towards  Malone's  Crossing,  hotly  pursued 
by  the  Confederates. 

Near  Reams  Station  Federal  infantry  came  up  and  took 
the  place  of  their  cavalry,  while  the  latter  attempted  to  turn 


272  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Hampton's  flanks.  "In  this,"  says  Hampton,  "they  were 
foiled  and  I  held  my  ground  steadily." 

Hill,  whose  advance  was  masked  by  some  of  the  cavalry, 
was  not  yet  ready  for  the  assault.  He  requested  Hampton 
to  retire  slowly  and  draw  the  enemy  after  him,  so  that  he 
with  his  infantry  might  take  them  in  rear.  This  Hampton 
proceeded  to  do,  but  the  Federals  followed  with  great  cau 
tion. 

At  five  P.  M.  the  boom  of  Hill's  artillery  indicated  that 
all  was  ready,  and  Hampton  at  once  ordered  forward  his 
battle  line  of  dismounted  men.  Before  them  were  the  ser 
ried  ranks  of  veteran  infantry,  with  strong  works  to  retire 
behind;  while  the  enemy's  cavalry  was  threatening  their 
right.  Unskilled  in  the  maneuvers  of  infantry,  and  know 
ing  little  beyond  keeping  an  even  front,  the  dismounted  men 
moved  steadily  forward.  The  sharp  volleys  of  Federal 
musketry  were  only  answered  by  the  rattle  of  Confederate 
carbines,  but  the  grey  line  kept  steadily  advancing  while  de 
livering  its  fire,  and  soon  the  bluecoats  fell  back  in  con 
fusion,  seeking  safety  behind  their  works  at  Reams  Station. 

Up  to  this  point  of  the  engagement,  Hampton's  line  had 
been  extended  across  the  railroad,  occupying  both  sides. 
Discovering  now  that  Hill,  approaching  from  the  west  side, 
was  driving  the  enemy,  he  moved  his  force  to  the  right  and 
east  side  of  the  railroad.  Pivoting  his  left  on  this,  and  with 
his  right  far  extended,  he  ordered  the  line  to  advance  and 
swing  around  so  as  to  envelop  the  enemy's  rear. 

Rosser,  who  had  returned  to  the  field  the  day  before, 
though  still  suffering  from  the  wound  received  at  Trevil- 
ians,  was  in  command  of  his  brigade. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  273 

The  Eleventh,  under  Colonel  Funsten,  and  a  portion  of 
White's  Battalion  formed  part  of  a  second  line  supporting 
Young  on  Hampton's  right,  while  the  extreme  right  of  the 
assaulting  column  was  occupied  by  the  Twelfth  under  Col 
onel  Massie,  the  two  right  companies,  B  and  I,  being  armed 
only  with  pistol  and  sabre. 

As  the  advancing  line  moved  on,  it  was  obliged  to  pass 
over  ground  naturally  rough  and  broken,  and  now  made 
still  more  difficult  of  passage  by  felled  trees  that  had  been 
cut  down  for  purposes  of  defense.  The  right  was  obliged 
to  go  forward  more  rapidly  than  the  center  and  left,  and 
besides,  it  encountered  a  body  of  the  enemy  until  then  unas- 
sailed,  and  in  position  outside  of  the  entrenchments. 

It  was  now  nearly  sundown,  when  amid  the  roar  of  can 
non,  bursting  of  bombs,  and  the  pattering  of  the  deadly 
bullets  through  the  foliage,  Hampton's  line,  clambering 
through  the  branches  and  over  the  trunks  of  the  fallen 
timber,  drove  the  last  line  of  the  enemy  behind  his  fortifica 
tions. 

The  circle  around  the  enemy  was  now  complete.  The 
Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry,  on  Hampton's  extreme  right,  as 
it  formed  anew  for  the  final  rush,  found  itself  alongside  of 
the  Twelfth  Virginia  Infantry,  that,  on  Hill's  extreme  left, 
had  swung  around  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  works. 
When  it  was  discovered  that  there  were  two  Twelfth  Vir 
ginias  side  by  side  salutations  were  interchanged,  and  there 
was  not  a  little  bantering  and  boasting  as  to  which  of  the 
two,  the  Twelfth  Infantry  or  the  Twelfth  Cavalry,  would 
be  the  first  to  reach  and  scale  the  ramparts  in  front  of  them. 
It  was  quite  understood  that  there  was  to  be  a  contest  of 
valor,  and  bracing  for  the  struggle,  each  regiment  waited 


274  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

anxiously  for  the  command  to  go  forward.  The  envelop 
ing  lines  were  dressed  and  presented  a  steady  front.  The 
Federal  gunners  were  at  their  posts,  and  the  last  beams  of 
the  setting  sun  glanced  along  the  musket  barrels  of  the 
awaiting  enemy.  It  was  only  the  stillness  that  usually 
heralds  the  storm-burst. 

Hill  opened  with  deafening  roar,  and  above  the  din  were 
heard  the  shouts  of  his  gallant  soldiers,  and  the  whole  line 
now  moved  forward. 

The  two  Twelfth  regiments  at  the  word  "Charge !"  went 
forward  with  noble  rivalry,  facing  undaunted  a  heavy  fire 
from  the  Federal  artillery.  For  a  brief  space  the  race  for 
glory  was  an  even  one;  but,  when  near  the  works,  the 
Twelfth  Infantry  halted  to  deliver  its  fire  before  rushing 
on.  The  Twelfth  Cavalry  never  stopped,  but  with  cocked 
pistols  in  hand,  made  straight  for  the  breastworks,  and 
leaping  over  them  fairly  won  the  race.  The  Federals  fired 
one  volley  and,  then  throwing  down  their  arms,  fled  pre 
cipitately. 

In  the  meantime  the  Seventh  Regiment,  under  Col.  R.  H. 
Dulany,  had  been  engaged  in  masking  the  advance  of  Hill's 
column  of  infantry.  The  following  is  Colonel  Dulany's 
account  of  the  same : 

"I  was  ordered  by  General  Rosser  to  report  with  my  regi 
ment,  Seventh  Virginia,  to  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill  near  Reams  Station 
August  24th,  1864.  When  I  found  General  Hill,  he  told  me 
that  he  was  very  anxious  that  the  Federal  forces  who  were 
entrenched  at  Reams  Station  should  not  know  of  his  presence 
until  he  attacked  their  earthworks,  and  to  that  end  he  wished 
me  to  drive  in  all  the  cavalry  in  his  front.  Not  knowing  what 
was  before  me,  I  ordered  Colonel  Marshall  to  advance  with  a 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  275 

squadron  and  attack  any  forces  he  came  up  with.  I  followed 
with  the  rest  of  the  regiment.  We  had  not  advanced  more  than 
a  mile  when  I  heard  firing,  and  Colonel  Marshall  was  brought 
back  badly  wounded.  I  immediately  rode  to  the  front,  and 
taking  command  of  the  advanced  squadrons,  charged  the 
enemy  and  drove  them  behind  their  earthworks.  We  were1 
so  close  on  their  heels  that  two  of  my  men,  unable  to  control 
their  horses,  followed  the  Federal  cavalry  into  their  fortifica 
tions.  One  of  the  men  was  Pendleton  of  Baltimore,  the  other 
I  do  not  remember — fell  dead  in  the  trenches.  I  do  not  recol 
lect  what  other  loss  was  suffered.  General  Hill  was  repulsed 
in  his  first  attack  with  a  heavy  loss. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  25th  Hill  ordered  me  to  protect  his 
flanks  with  the  assistance  of  a  portion  of  Wright's  command, 
while  he  made  his  second  attack  when  he  carried  the  earth 
works,  capturing  twenty-six  or  eight  hundred  men  and  six  or 
eight  new  three-inch  rifle-guns.  During  the  fight  the  Federal 
cavalry  made  three  efforts  to  get  at  his  flanks,  but  we  drove 
them  back  every  time.  As  Hill  sent  his  prisoners  to  the  rear, 
the  Federal  cavalry  again  attempted  a  flank  movement,  and 
with  more  stubbornness  than  at  their  first  attempt.  We  had  a 
number  of  the  Henry  sixteen-shooters  recently  captured 
from  Wilson's  cavalry,  and  our  fire  was  so  rapid  that  Hill 
became  uneasy,  supposing  we  had  run  up  against  infantry,  and 
sent  to  me  an  aid  to  see  if  we  needed  any  assistance.  I  asked 
for  two  howitzers,  which  he  sent  me,  and  immediately  after  a 
portion  of  General  McCowan's  command.  They  came  at  a 
double-quick  and  the  General,  being  a  large  man,  was  pretty 
well  blown.  He  asked  me  to  put  his  men  in  position,  as  he  did 
not  know  the  ground.  As  the  howitzers  were  all  the  help  I 
wanted,  and  I  desired  my  own  men  to  have  all  the  credit  of  the 
frequent  repulses  of  the  enemy,  I  told  General  McCowan,  that 
there  was  a  stream  in  the  woods  in  our  rear,  where,  if  he  would 
take  his  command,  he  would  be  near  enough  if  we  required  his 
assistance.  After  this  General  Hill  ordered  me  to  move  for 
ward  and  take  possession  of  the  battlefield,  to  secure  the  guns 


276  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

and  ammunition  left  by  the  enemy,  and  bury  the  dead.  While 
carrying  out  these  orders,  a  squad  of  Federal  cavalry  under  a 
flag  of  truce  came,  asking  permission  to  bury  their  dead.  I  had 
orders  to  refuse  such  applications  and  they  retired." 

General  Hill  wished  to  get  back  to  the  army  before  the 
enemy  should  know  that  he  had  left  Reams  Station. 

After  dark  Hampton  with  seven  regiments  of  his  com 
mand,  including  the  Twelfth  Virginia  and  White's  Battal 
ion,  remained  in  the  trenches  to  cover  the  withdrawal  of 
the  infantry.  For  there  was  still  a  force  of  the  enemy  out 
side  of  the  works  in  the  direction  of  Grant's  army,  and 
there  was  some  apprehension  of  its  attempting  to  recover 
the  station. 

After  a  twelve  hours'  battle  an  almost  sleepless  night  fol 
lowed.  The  ground  in  front  of  the  trenches  was  strewn 
with  dead  and  dying  Federals,  and  the  shrieks  of  the 
wounded  banished  slumber.  At  midnight  a  terrific  storm 
burst  forth,  deluging  all  with  a  downpour  of  rain,  and 
bringing  much  relief  to  the  wounded.  The  dreadful  patter 
of  the  elements  with  the  sharp  rattle  and  deafening  roar  of 
the  thunder  was  appalling,  and  the  bright  flashes  of  light 
ning,  that  revealed  the  ghastly  features  of  the  dead  and  of 
others  in  the  agonies  of  death,  added  to  the  horrors  of  the 
scene. 

During  the  night  the  Federals  withdrew  from  the  vicin 
ity,  and  next  day  were  followed  and  harassed  by  Hampton's 
cavalry,  with  which  was  the  Twelfth  Virginia. 

While  the  battle  around  the  station  was  going  on  the 
Seventh,  as  we  have  seen  from  Colonel  Dulany's  report, 
had  been  doing  some  good  work.  It  had  been  ordered  to 
report  to  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill  to  mask  the  movement  of  his  in- 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  277 

fantry,  which  it  did  by  driving  in  all  the  Federal  cavalry 
in  his  front.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Marshall,  leading  in  this 
attack,  was  badly  wounded,  and  so  vigorous  was  the  charge 
which  was  pressed  by  Colonel  Dulany  that  two  of  his  men 
rode  over  the  enemy's  entrenchments,  one  of  them  being 
killed  inside  of  them. 

On  the  24th  the  Seventh  repulsed  several  bold  attempts 
of  the  Federals  to  turn  the  flanks  of  Hill,  blocking  their 
way  at  every  attack  until,  foiled  and  disheartened,  they 
finally  withdrew. 

The  engagements  before  Reams  Station  on  the  25th,  in 
which  the  cavalry  did  most  of  its  fighting  on  foot,  co-oper 
ating  and  forming  parts  of  the  fighting  line  with  the  infan 
try,  a  large  part  of  them  armed  only  with  pistols  and  sabres, 
tended  greatly  to  inspire  the  infantry  with  admiration  for 
the  dash,  and  confidence  in  the  staying  qualities  of  the  cav 
alry,  which  arm  of  the  service  they  had  heretofore  affected 
to  belittle.  It  was  shown  that  they  were  capable  of  attack 
ing  infantry  in  entrenched  positions  with  such  inferior 
weapons  as  carbines  and  pistols  and  this,  not  only  on  foot, 
but  in  some  instances  mounted. 

There  were  engaged  in  this  fight  on  the  part  of  the  Con 
federates  about  8,000  men  under  command  of  Genl.  A.  P. 
Hill,  consisting  of  McRae's,  Cook's,  and  Lane's  brigades, 
with  Pegram's  Artillery,  and  the  cavalry  division  of  Hamp 
ton  and  Barringer;  while  the  Federal  force  under  General 
Hancock  was  composed  of  the  Second  Army  Corps,  Mills' 
and  Gibb's  divisions,  fifty  regiments,  the  two  cavalry  divi 
sions  of  Gregg  and  Kautz,  and  the  whole  supported  by 
Wilcox's  division  in  reserve,  numbering  from  16,000  to 


278  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

20,000  men,  the  Federals  having  advantage  of  fortified 
positions. 

The  victory  of  the  Confederates  was  decisive,  nine  guns 
being  captured  and  some  of  them  turned  upon  the  enemy. 
According  to  the  official  report  of  General  Hill  the  captures 
were,  "Twelve  stands  of  colors,  nine  pieces  of  artillery,  ten 
caissons,  2,150  prisoners,  3,100  small  arms,  thirty-two 
horses.  My  own  loss,  cavalry,  artillery  and  infantry,  being 
720." 

The  Federal  official  reports  on  the  26th,  of  the  engage 
ments  near  Reams  Station  on  the  25th,  are  interesting 
reading  mainly  for  their  inconsistencies,  contradictions, 
and  general  inaccuracy,  though  some  are  wonderfully 
candid ;  Grant  being  misinformed  by  his  subordinates. 

General  Grant  reports : 

"Cmr  POINT,  VA.,  August  26th,  1864,  10  A.  M. 
MAJOR  H.  W.  HALLECK, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

I  have  no  report  of  the  casualties  yet  from  operations  yes 
terday  near  Reams  Station.  Orders  were  given  during  the 
day  for  General  Hancock  to  return,  but  being  pressed  by  the 
enemy  he  could  not  do  so  until  night.  Frequent  assaults  were 
repulsed,  but  just  before  night  the  enemy  carried  one  point  of 
the  line  and  captured  eight  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  staff  officer,  who  gives  the  only  report  I  have,  thinks  the 
enemy  were  very  severely  punished,  and  that  our  loss  in 
prisoners  will  be  small. 

During  the  night  General  Hancock  returned  to  his  place  in 
line  without  opposition.  *  *  * 

U.  S.  GRANT, 
Lieutenant-General." 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  279 

August  26th,  1864,  ten  A.  M.,  Genl.  George  D.  Meade 
reports  to  General  Grant : 

"Hancock's  troops  were  withdrawn  without  molestation  or 
being  followed.  He  is  now  near  the  Williams  house.  He 
reports  his  command  at  present  unserviceable.  A  report  from 
General  Gregg,  commanding  cavalry  on  Warren's  left  and 
Hancock's  rear,  reports  the  enemy  pressing  his  pickets  a  little 
this  morning  with  a  view,  he  thinks,  of  picking  up  stragglers." 

At  half  past  twelve  P.  M.  Meade  reported  to  General 
Grant:  "A  safeguard  that  was  left  on  the  battlefield 
remained  there  until  after  daylight  this  morning.  At  that 
time  the  enemy  had  all  disappeared,  leaving  their  dead  on 
the  field  unburied.  This  shows  how  severely  they  were 
punished,  and  doubtless  hearing  of  the  arrival  of  reinforce 
ments,  they  feared  the  result  if  they  remained." 

Again  at  one  o'clock  P.  M.  Meade  despatched  to  Grant 
as  follows : 

"Since  sending  my  last  despatch,  I  have  conversed  with  the 
safeguard  referred  to.  He  did  not  leave  the  field  until  after 
sunrise.  At  that  time  nearly  all  the  enemy  had  left,  moving 
towards  Petersburg.  He  says  that  they  abandoned  not  only 
their  dead  but  their  wounded  also.  He  conversed  with  an 
officer,  who  said  that  their  losses  were  greater  than  ever  before 
during  the  war. 

"The  safeguard  says  he  was  over  a  part  of  the  field,  and  it 
was  covered  with  the  enemy's  dead  and  wounded.  He  has 
seen  a  great  many  battlefields,  but  never  saw  such  a  sight. 
Very  few  of  our  dead,  nearly  all  of  the  enemy. 

"All  of  our  wounded  are  brought  off,  but  our  dead  unburied. 
I  have  instructed  Gregg  to  make  an  effort  to  send  a  parry  to 
the  field  and  bury  our  dead. 


280  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

"I  should  judge  from  all  accounts  the  enemy  will  most  likely 
be  quiet  for  some  time." 

The  absurdity  and  absolute  falsity  of  the  statement  of 
this  ''safeguard"  is  so  apparent  that  it  is  a  wonder  that 
Meade  should  have  forwarded  it  to  General  Grant  and  with 
remarks  indicative  of  his  having  given  credence  to  it.  We 
have  seen  from  Meade's  report  to  Grant  of  ten  A.  M.  of  the 
same  day,  two  hours  before  he  forwarded  this  statement  of 
the  "safeguard,"  that  Hancock  had  fallen  back  in  such  con 
dition  that  he  reported  his  command  as  "unserviceable/'  We 
have  seen  also  that  after  the  discomfiture  of  Hancock,  in 
which  he  lost  2,724  men,  of  whom  2,150  were  prisoners, 
nine  guns,  ten  caissons,  3,100  small  arms  and  twelve  stands 
of  colors,  A.  P.  Hill,  wishing  to  return  unobserved  by  the 
enemy  to  the  army  near  Petersburg,  left  Col.  Richard 
Dulany  with  the  Seventh  Regiment,  Laurel  Brigade,  of 
Cavalry,  to  screen  his  movement,  to  occupy  the  field,  secure 
the  captures,  and  bury  the  dead. 

Colonel  Dulany,  in  his  modest  report,  has  said:  "While 
carrying  out  the  order  a  squad  of  cavalry  under  flag  of 
truce  came  asking  permission  to  bury  their  dead.  I  had 
orders  to  refuse  any  such  applications,  and  they  retired." 

The  people  of  the  North,  as  well  as  the  Northern  Gov 
ernment,  having  raised  magnificent  armies,  supplied  with 
the  most  modern  and  approved  equipments  of  war,  de 
manded,  with  good  reason,  that  their  generals  should  win 
victories.  In  order  to  satisfy  this  demand,  victories  won 
only  by  peculiar  processes  on  paper,  were  very  often  sub 
stituted  in  the  place  of  real  ones  in  the  field.  So  a  first-class 
official  report  could  easily  convert  a  serious  defeat  into  a 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  281 

victory  of  very  respectable  proportions.  It  was  a  victory  of 
this  kind  that  General  Meade,  upon  the  statement  of  the 
"safeguard,"  reported  to  General  Grant.  It  is  not  likely, 
however,  that  Grant  was  enthused  with  the  report  of  the 
victory  in  which  he  knew  that  Hancock  had  fallen  back 
hors  de  combat,  leaving  guns,  colors,  prisoners,  etc.,  in  the 
hands  of  the  Confederates. 

General  Miles,  commanding  the  First  Division  of  the 
Federal  Second  Army  Corps,  says  in  his  report : 

"At  five  P.  M.  the  enemy  drove  in  the  skirmishers  of  the 
consolidated  brigade,  who  made  feeble  resistance,  debouched 
from  the  woods  in  front  of  that  and  the  Fourth  Brigade, 
advancing  through  the  slashing,  which  was  thirty  yards  wide. 
At  first  he  was  met  by  a  sharp  fire  from  these  brigades,  part  of 
the  First  Brigade  which  fired  to  the  left  oblique,  and  the 
Fourth  New  York  Artillery  to  the  right  oblique.  Although  he 
pushed  forward  with  determination  he  was  repulsed  at  several 
points,  and  his  organization  greatly  broken  up  by  the  severity 
of  the  fire,  and  the  obstacles  in  his  front ;  but  unfortunately, 
just  as  his  entire  repulse  seemed  certain,  a  portion  of  the  con 
solidated  brigade,  consisting  of  the  Seventh,  Fifty-second  and 
Thirty-ninth  New  York  regiments,  broke  and  fell  in  confusion. 
At  the  same  time  a  break  occurred  in  the  same  brigade — the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  and  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-sixth  New  York  regiments.  I  stood  at  the  time  en 
the  banks  of  the  railroad  cut,  and  saw  a  Rebel  color-bearer 
spring  over  our  works  and  down  into  the  cut  almost  at  my 
feet.  But  few  of  the  enemy  had  reached  the  works,  and  a 
determined  resistance  of  five  minutes  would  have  given  us  the 
victory. 

"I  looked  for  Lieutenant-Colonel  Rugg,  but  not  at  the 
moment  seeing  him,  I  directed  his  regiment  to  rush  into  the 
gap  and  commence  firing.  Not  a  minute's  time  was  lost  before 
giving  this  order,  but  instead  of  executing  it,  they  either  lay  on 


282  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

their  faces  or  got  up  and  ran  to  the  rear.  I  then  rode  down 
the  line  of  the  Fourth  Brigade,  ordering  them  to  move  toward 
the  right  and  hold  the  rifle-pits.  These  troops  were  then 
fighting  gallantly,  their  brigade  commander,  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Broady,  being  conspicuous,  encouraging  and  directing  the 
men.  Finding  the  enemy  had  gained  the  angle  and  flanked  my 
line,  I  rode  to  the  Twelfth  New  York  Battery  and  directed 
Lieutenant  Dandy  to  fire  canister  at  that  point,  which  he  did 
with  great  effect,  working  his  guns  gallantly  until  the  enemy 
was  upon  him.  His  horses  were  killed,  and  it  was  impossible 
to  limber  up  and  draw  off  his  guns  in  the  breaking  of  the  line. 
The  enemy  pushed  forward,  and  taking  possession  of  them, 
turned  one  of  them  and  opened  fire  with  it  upon  our  troops. 
"The  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Regiment,  Captain 
Brent  commanding,  when  the  assault  was  made,  was  directed 
to  attack  the  enemy  in  flank  and  rear.  The  regiment  had 
changed  front  and  was  moved  up  to  within  200  yards  and 
directed  to  open  fire.  Captain  Martin,  division  inspector,  a 
very  cool  and  reliable  officer,  reports  that  not  a  shot  was  fired 
at  it,  but  the  men  broke  from  the  ranks  and  fled  in  the  most 
disgraceful  manner,  only  two  men  in  the  regiment  discharging 
their  pieces.  The  panic  had  become  somewhat  general,  and  it 
was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  my  line  could  be  formed." 

General  Gibbon,  commanding  the  Second  Division  of 
Hancock's  corps,  in  his  official  report,  states  the  following : 

"About  five  P.  M.,  the  enemy  having  placed  his  batteries, 
opened  a  heavy  fire,  most  of  which  took  my  part  of  the  line  in 
reverse.  Soon  afterwards  he  made  his  assault  on  General 
Miles'  line,  from  which  a  portion  of  the  First  Brigade  had 
been  withdrawn  to  strengthen  mine,  under  the  impression 
that  an  attack  was  to  be  made  there.  The  enemy  broke  through 
General  Miles'  line  and,  pushing  forward  his  troops,  appeared 
to  be  for  a  time  carrying  everything  before  him.  His  fire 
taking  my  line  in  reverse,  I  shifted  my  men  to  the  opposite 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  283 

side  of  the  parapets  to  resist  his  further  advance,  but  there  was 
checked  by  the  steadiness  of  a  portion  of  Miles'  division,  and 
my  division  was  then  ordered  forward  by  General  Hancock 
to  attack  the  enemy  and  re-take  the  breastworks.  In  attempting 
to  obey  this  order,  that  portion  of  the  division  with  me  did  not 
sustain  its  previous  reputation,  and  demoralized,  partly  by  the 
shelling  and  musketry  firing  in  its  rear,  and  partly  by  refugees 
from  other  parts  of  the  line,  retired  after  a  very  feeble  effort 
and  very  slight  fire,  in  great  confusion,  every  effort  of 
myself  and  staff  failing  to  arrest  the  rout  until  the  breast 
works  were  reached.  Soon  after  this  the  enemy  attacked  my 
line,  the  men  shifted  to  the  inside  of  the  parapet.  Besides 
the  fire  from  the  front  which,  however,  was  very  feeble,  they 
were  subjected  to  a  musketry  and  artillery  fire  from  the  right 
flank,  when  the  enemy  turned  our  guns  upon  us.  The  men 
soon  gave  way  in  great  confusion,  and  gave  up  the  breast 
works  almost  without  resistance,  and  were  partially  rallied  in 
the  woods  behind  the  right  wing.  The  result  of  this  action 
was  a  source  of  great  mortification  to  me,  as  I  am  confident 
but  for  the  bad  conduct  of  my  division,  the  battle  would  have 
terminated  in  my  favor,  even  after  the  enemy  had  broken 
through  General  Miles'  line." 

The  minuteness  and  candor  of  the  two  foregoing  reports 
indicate  their  truthfulness,  and  corroborate  the  accounts  of 
the  engagement  made  from  the  Confederate  standpoint. 

Genl.  Robert  E.  Lee,  in  his  report  to  the  Secretary  of 
War,  says : 

"Gen.  A.  P.  Hill  attacked  the  enemy  in  his  entrenchments 
at  Reams  Station,  and  at  the  second  assault  carried  the  entire 
line.  Cook's  and  McRae's  North  Carolina  brigades,  under 
General  Heth,  and  Lane's  North  Carolina  brigade  of  Wilcox's 
division,  under  General  Conner,  with  Pegram's  Artillery,  com 
posed  the  assaulting  column.  One  line  of  breastworks  was 


284  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

carried  by  the  cavalry  under  General  Hampton  with  great  gal 
lantry,  who  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  the  day.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded  is  reported  to  be 
heavy,  ours  relatively  small.  Our  profound  gratitude  is  due  to 
the  Giver  of  all  Victory,  and  our  thanks  to  the  brave  officers 
and  men  engaged." 

General  Lee,  in  his  letter  replying  to  a  communication  to 
General  Hampton  of  date  August  26th,  1864,  says: 

"I  am  very  much  gratified  with  the  success  of  yesterday's 
operations.  The  conduct  of  the  cavalry  is  worthy  of  all  praise. 
I  wished  you  to  be  near  them  because  I  feared  that  as  Gregg 
was  so  much  in  the  background  in  yesterday's  operations,  he 
might  be  preparing  for  a  raid  on  the  Danville  and  Southside 
Railroad."1 

There  was  now  a  few  days  of  rest,  but  on  the  ist  of  Sep 
tember  Rosser  had  the  men  again  in  the  saddle  for  the  pur 
pose  of  making  a  reconnoissance.  This  expedition  was 
called  by  the  troopers  the  Newspaper  raid,  because  it  was 
believed  by  them  that  it  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  get 
ting  the  latest  Northern  papers. 

About  four  miles  beyond  Reams  Station  Rosser  drove  in 
the  enemy's  pickets,  and  the  whole  brigade  galloping  in 
pursuit  ran  the  fugitives  into  their  camp  close  by  the  infan 
try  fortifications.  The  surprised  Federals  stoutly  defended 
their  camp,  and  for  a  brief  space  there  \vas  hot  work  with 
pistol  and  sabre.  After  securing  some  prisoners  and  a  good 
deal  of  plunder  Rosser  withdrew.  In  this  charge  the  Elev 
enth  was  in  front  and  lost  two  killed  and  several  wounded. 
It  does  not  appear  that  a  newspaper  was  secured,  nor  is 


United  States  War  Records,  Series  I,  Vol.  XLII. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  285 

there  any  intimation  of  the  nature  of  the  information 
expected  to  be  obtained. 

The  brigade  had  continued  in  camp  resting  and  recuper 
ating  after  the  fight  at  Reams  Station  until  the  I4th  of 
September.  That  morning,  with  five  days'  rations  in  hav 
ersacks,  the  brigade  under  Rosser  started  with  Hampton  on 
his  celebrated  Cattle  raid.  The  rest  of  the  column  consisted 
of  Maj.-Genl.  W.  H.  F.  Lee's  division,  Bearing's  brigade, 
and  100  men  from  Young's  and  Dunnavant's  brigades 
under  Colonel  Miller  of  the  Sixth  South  Carolina  Regi 
ment,  and  the  horse  artillery  under  Col.  R.  P.  Chew. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  capture  and  secure 
for  the  use  of  Lee's  army,  a  large  herd  of  cattle  belonging 
to  the  Federals,  grazing  in  security  on  the  James  River 
near  Coggin's  Point,  in  the  rear  of  Grant's  army.  The 
location  of  the  cattle  being  well  within  the  enemy's  lines,  it 
became  necessary  to  force  the  lines  at  the  most  practicable 
point. 

Hampton  had  been  well  informed  as  to  the  exact  location 
of  the  cattle,  and  the  position  and  approximate  number  of 
the  force  guarding  them,  by  intelligent  scouts  under  Shad- 
burn  of  the  Jeff  Davis  Legion;  John  G.  McCleur  of  Com 
pany  B,  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry,  being  one  of  them. 
Upon  their  information,  Hampton  selected  Sycamore 
Church,  in  Prince  George's  county,  as  the  point  at  which  to 
make  the  attack. 

The  first  night  the  whole  force  bivouacked  near  Wilkin 
son's  Bridge,  over  the  Rowanty  Creek.  Early  next  morn 
ing  the  march  was  continued.  The  region  through  which 
the  expedition  passed  was  flat  and  marshy.  The  road 
wound  along  through  occasional  pine  forests  that  helped  to 


286  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

conceal  the  strength  and  design  of  Hampton's  force.  Few 
houses  were  seen,  and  almost  unperceived  they  stole  along 
towards  Grant's  rear..  Early  in  the  evening  the  Black- 
water  was  reached  at  a  point  where  Cook's  Bridge,  recently 
destroyed,  had  stood. 

Hampton  purposely  took  this  route  because  the  absence 
of  a  bridge  averted  suspicion  of  any  approach  that  way. 
Here  he  halted  and  fed,  while  the  engineer  corps  built  a 
new  bridge,  finishing  it  before  nightfall. 

At  midnight  the  column  crossed  over,  and  each  subordi 
nate  command  proceeded  to  perform  the  part  that  had  been 
assigned  to  it. 

Lee  was  ordered  to  move  up  the  Stage  Road,  drive  in  the 
pickets,  force  back  the  Federals,  and  occupy  the  roads  lead 
ing  from  the  direction  of  Grant's  army  to  Sycamore  Church. 
Bearing  was  to  proceed  to  Cox's  Mill  and  remain  there 
until  the  attack  had  been  made  at  Sycamore  Church,  when 
he  was  to  charge  across  and  attack  the  picket  on  the  Min- 
ger's  Ferry  Road. 

To  Rosser  was  assigned  the  duty  of  carrying  the  outpost 
position  of  the  enemy  at  Sycamore  Church,  and  then  to 
push  on  and  capture  the  cattle  which  \vere  corralled  about 
two  miles  from  the  church  and  guarded  by  another  consid 
erable  force  of  cavalry. 

When  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  church,  Rosser 
halted  and  waited  until  morning.  At  the  first  streak  of 
dawn,  while  darkness  yet  lingered,  the  column  moved  for 
ward  and  the  enemy  was  soon  discovered  in  a  strong  posi 
tion.  This  was  the  outpost  of  the  force  protecting  the  cattle, 
the  approaches  to  it  being  protected  by  felled  trees  and 
abattis.  This  position  was  occupied  by  about  400  men  of 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  287 

the  District  of  Columbia  Cavalry,  armed  with  sixteen- 
shooter  Henry  rifles.  The  narrow  roadway  leading  through 
the  abattis  into  the  camp,  which  the  scouts  had  reported  to 
be  open  wras  now  found  to  be  well  barricaded,  which  fact 
indicated  that  the  Federals  had  become  suspicious  of 
Hampton's  approach,  and  had  prepared  in  a  measure  to 
receive  him,  but  were,  perhaps,  somewhat  deceived  as  to  his 
numbers. 

A  squadron  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment  was  ordered  to 
charge,  which  it  did  promptly,  the  men  riding  up  against 
the  barricade,  where  heavy  volleys  were  poured  into  them, 
it  being  too  dark  to  see  the  enemy  except  by  the  flash  of  the 
discharges.  A  number  of  casualties  occurred  as  the  result 
of  this  gallant  charge.  The  horse  of  Adjutant  Funsten  was 
killed,  falling  across  the  narrow  roadway.  A  portion  of 
the  Seventh  Regiment  was  dismounted  and  attacked  and 
removed  a  portion  of  the  barricade  in  the  roadway. 

The  Twelfth  Regiment  was  now  ordered  to  charge 
mounted,  the  First  Squadron,  Companies  B  and  I,  in  front. 
The  opening  in  the  barricade  was  carried,  a  number  of  men 
and  horses  being  killed  there. 

The  enemy,  covered  by  darkness  and  from  behind  trees, 
kept  up  a  rapid  fusillade  with  repeating  rifles  upon  the  front 
and  flanks  of  the  charging  column,  the  streaks  of  flame 
from  their  guns  now  and  then  revealing  their  forms  to  the 
aim  of  the  assailants.  Quite  a  number  of  them  w^ere  killed 
and  wounded  and  about  300  captured,  besides  a  number  of 
horses  and  ten  wagons.  They  had,  however,  inflicted  a 
heavy  loss  upon  the  brigade.  The  Seventh,  under  Colonel 
Dulany,  had  three  men  killed  and  fifteen  wounded ;  among 


288  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

them  Lieut.  G.  P.  Smith  of  Company  A,  who  fell  leading  a 
charge. 

Among  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  Twelfth,  were 
Lieutenant  Lucas  of  Company  D  and  Private  Richard  Tim- 
berlake,  a  gallant  soldier  of  Company  B. 

The  horse  of  Orderly-Sergt.  Seth  Timberlake,  known  as 
the  "Fighting  Sergeant"  of  Company  B,  was  shot  dead, 
and  falling  upon  him,  it  required  several  comrades  to 
remove  the  animal  and  extricate  the  rider. 

The  Eleventh  also  had  some  losses,  as  well  as  White's 
Battalion,  which,  however,  was  mostly  in  reserve  and  not 
engaged  until  later. 

Daylight  had  now  appeared,  and  the  brigade  pushing  on 
without  much  organization  for  a  mile  further,  came  sud 
denly  upon  a  line  of  cavalry  composed  of  a  few  squadrons 
mounted,  and  in  the  rear  of  them  the  coveted  prize — the 
cattle — in  close  corral. 

General  Rosser,  riding  at  the  head  of  the  brigade, 
directed  a  soldier  to  ride  in  advance  and  demand  the  sur 
render  of  the  opposing  force. 

Private  Cary  Seldon  of  Company  B,  Twelfth  Regiment, 
with  a  white  handkerchief  hanging  upon  the  point  of  his 
sabre,  riding  a  little  in  advance,  called  to  the  Federals, 
"General  Rosser  demands  your  surrender."  The  officer  in 
command  replied,  "Go  to  h — 1 !"  Which  defiance  was 
instantly  followed  by  a  volley  from  his  men.  With  a  yell 
the  brigade  fell  upon  them,  White's  Battalion  taking  the 
front.  The  Federals  fled  in  disorder  through  their  encamp 
ment,  firing  into  the  cattle  as  they  passed  and  yelling  in 
order  to  stampede  them.  A  few  of  the  beeves  at  the  farther 
end  of  the  corral  stampeded,  but  were  overtaken  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  289 

rounded  up,  not  one  escaping.  The  net  result  of  the  cap 
ture  was  2,486  large,  fat  young  steers,  304  prisoners,  a 
considerable  number  of  horses,  arms  and  equipments, 
including  several  hundred  of  the  Henry  sixteen-shooter 
rifles.  The  camps  of  the  enemy  were  burned,  the  stores 
being  first  secured  and  brought  off  in  several  captured 
wagons. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  capture  of  the  cattle, 
written  by  General  Rosser,  which  appeared  in  the  Philadel 
phia  Times  some  time  after  the  war.  It  \vas  written  from 
memory  without  consulting  any  official  reports  or  other 
data. 

"Our  army  had  been  for  some  time  on  short  rations,  and 
as  our  cavalry  was  stronger  than  that  of  the  enemy,  we 
determined  to  forage  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  position. 
Scouts  reported  a  large  herd  of  beef  cattle  near  Coggin's  Point, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  I4th  of  September,  General  Hamp 
ton  took  Bearing's  brigade  and  mine,  and  \V.  H.  F.  Lee's 
division,  and  by  making  a  long  detour,  crossing  the  Jerusalem 
Plank  Road  at  Belcher's  Mill,  and  marching  the  I4th  and  I5th 
and  night  of  the  I5th,  we  halted  near  daylight  on  the  morning 
of  the  1 6th,  as  we  were  Hearing  the  enemy's  line,  to  dispose 
of  our  troops  for  the  attack  upon  the  enemy  and  the  capture 
of  the  beeves.  W.  H.  F.  Lee  was  sent  off  to  the  left  towards 
Prince  George  Court  House  to  amuse  Gregg  and  keep  him  off. 
Bearing  was  sent  to  threaten  Cabin  Point,  and  I  was  ordered 
to  break  through  the  line  at  Sycamore  Church  and  secure  the 
cattle. 

"These  preliminaries  all  arranged  I  resumed  the  march. 
The  moon  had  set,  and  although  the  sky  was  cloudless,  the 
night  in  the  woods  was  very  dark.  My  men  were  ordered  to 
march  in  silence,  but  the  road  was  hard,  and  in  the  profound 
stillness  of  the  night  the  tramp  of  the  horses  could  be  heard  a 


290  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

long  distance,  and  I  knew  it  would  be  impossible  to  surprise 
the  enemy,  and  therefore  made  my  arrangements  to  fight.  I 
knew  that  I  would  find  a  regiment  of  cavalry  at  Sycamore 
Church,  and  I  knew  that  every  man  of  them  would  be  in  posi 
tion  and  ready  for  me  on  my  arrival  there,  and  I  brought  up 
the  Twelfth  Virginia  Regiment  and  gave  orders  to  the  com 
mander,  Major  Knott,  a  very  gallant  officer,  to  charge  just  as 
soon  as  he  was  challenged  by  the  enemy.2 

"My  guide  reported  that  we  were  near  the  church,  and  I  was 
riding  by  the  side  of  Knott,  telling  him  how  to  proceed  in  the 
event  of  his  being  able  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  when,  as  if  by 
the  flash  of  lightning,  the  front  was  all  ablaze  by  the  flash  of 
musketry,  but  the  gallant  Twelfth  was  not  the  least  staggered 
by  the  sudden  discharge  in  its  face,  but  as  quick  as  thought  the 
charge  was  sounded,  and  the  noble  old  regiment  went  thun 
dering  upon  the  enemy.  But  a  strong  abattis  had  been  thrown 
across  the  road,  over  which  cavalry  could  not  pass,  and  when 
it  was  reached  the  men  were  dismounted  and  put  to  work 
clearing  it  away ;  and,  seeing  this,  I  dismounted  the  next  regi 
ment,  the  Seventh,  and  ran  it  up  in  line  as  skirmishers,  and 
soon  cleared  the  way  for  the  mounted  men  of  the  Twelfth,  who 
were  followed  by  the  Eleventh  and  Twenty-fifth  battalions, 
and  before  the  enemy  could  mount  and  escape,  or  communicate 
with  the  guard  over  the  cattle,  they  were  our  prisoners. 

"When  we  captured  the  regiment  at  Sycamore  Church  it  was 
barely  light  enough  to  see  the  road,  and  leaving  a  strong  guard 
with  the  prisoners,  I  pressed  on  in  search  of  the  cattle. 

"I  had  proceeded  about  a  mile,  when  in  the  dim  light  of  the 
early  morning,  I  saw  a  line  of  cavalry — about  two  squadrons — 
drawn  up  on  a  hill  in  front  of  me.  My  command  was  not 
closed  up,  and  I  had  to  halt  for  a  few  minutes,  but  a  portion  of 
White's  Battalion  coming  up,  we  made  a  dash  at  this  little 


2Col.  Thomas  E.  Massie,  and  not  Major  Knott,  was  in  command  of 
the  Twelfth  on  this  occasion,  and  received  the  order  referred  to  by  Gen 
eral  Rosser,  and  executed  it  with  great  gallantry,  which  the  heroic 
Knott  would  have  done  had  he  been  in  command.  The  mistake  is  an 
inadvertence  of  General  Rosser. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  291 

squad,  which  broke  on  our  approach,  and  pursuing  we  soon 
came  upon  the  beeves. 

"When  I  came  in  sight  of  the  beeves  they  were  running 
rapidly  in  the  direction  of  the  James  River.  The  herders  had 
thrown  down  the  fence  of  the  corral,  and  by  firing  pistols  and 
yelling  Indian  fashion,  had  stampeded  the  cattle,  and  they  were 
running  like  mad.  I  ordered  the  Seventh  Virginia,  which  had 
just  overtaken  me,  to  run  their  horses  until  they  got  in  front 
of  the  herd,  then  to  turn  upon  it  and  stop  it.  This  order  was 
not  easily  obeyed,  for  the  young  steers  ran  like  buffalo,  and  it 
was  requiring  too  much  of  jaded  cavalry  to  force  it  into  a  race 
like  this.  But  after  running  a  mile  or  so  the  steers  slackened 
their  pace,  and  the  cavalry  was  thus  able  to  get  in  front  of 
them,  and  then  to  round  them  up,  and  quiet  them,  then  turn 
them  about  and  start  them  to  the  pens  of  their  new  masters  on 
the  Dixie  side  of  the  line.  When  the  excitement  was  all  over 
and  the  herd  was  obediently  following  'the  leader,'  I  had  them 
counted  and  found  that  our  haul  amounted  to  2,486  head,  and 
all  fat  young  steers."3 

The  cattle  having  been  captured  had  to  be  taken  care  of, 
and  moments  now  were  precious,  for  the  overwhelming 
cavalry  force  of  Grant's  army  was  in  striking  distance  and 
could  intercept  Hampton  by  several  roads  unless  the  cap 
tures  and  escort  could  be  hurried  past  the  roads  intersecting 
the  line  of  retreat,  and  these  approaches  successfully 
defended. 

The  situation  was  a  dangerous  one  for  cavalry  without 
encumbrance,  but  to  escape  successfully  with  an  additional 
column  composed  of  the  cattle,  wagons,  and  prisoners  made 
it  more  than  doubly  difficult,  and  taxed  to  the  fullest  both 
the  genius  of  Hampton  and  the  steadiness  and  courage  of 
his  command.  Hampton,  however,  was  equal  to  the  occa- 


3Taken  from  the  Southern  Bivouac,  page  417. 


292  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

sion,  and  before  making  the  attack  had  made  his  arrange 
ments  and  prepared  for  almost  any  contingency. 

W.  H.  F.  Lee  and  Bearing  had  attacked  the  enemy  at 
the  opportune  time,  with  success,  and  had  established 
themselves  at  the  points  they  were  ordered  to  secure  on  the 
roads  leading  to  Grant's  army. 

By  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  Hampton  had  secured  everything, 
destroyed  the  enemy's  camps  and  immovables,  withdrawn 
his  forces  and  started  upon  the  return. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  all  the  hubbub  created  so 
near  the  main  body  of  the  Federal  army,  in  its  very  rear, 
only  five  miles  from  its  base  of  supply  at  City  Point,  and  in 
sight  of  the  gunboats  at  Cabin  Point,  and  the  capture  of  so 
much  valuable  property,  had  not  caused  a  stir  at  Grant's 
headquarters,  and  that  vigorous  efforts  were  not  instantly 
put  forth  to  make  a  recapture,  and  punish  the  Confederate 
raiders  for  their  insolence  and  audacity.  In  this  connec 
tion,  some  of  the  Federal  reports  and  despatches  are  of 
interest. 

On  the  1 6th  General  Kautz  reports  to  General  Grant : 

"General  Hampton  has  captured  all  the  cattle  and  taken 
them  away  on  the  road  leading  south  from  this  point.  I  shall 
pursue  and  endeavor  to  annoy  them  as  much  as  possible. 
About  150  of  the  First  District  of  Columbia  Cavalry  have  been 
captured." 

General  B.  F.  Butler  to  General  Grant,  September  i7th: 

"Yesterday  three  brigades  of  Hampton's  cavalry  turned  our 
left  and  struck  the  cattle  corral  about  seven  miles  below  City 
Point,  and  captured  about  2,000  cattle  and  our  telegraph  con 
struction  party." 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  293 

Grant  despatches  to  General  Davies,  commanding  cav 
alry  near  Williams'  house : 

"September  i6th.  I  send  you  despatch  just  received  from 
City  Point.  The  Commanding  General  wishes  you  to  strike 
the  enemy  on  their  return,  if  they  are  now  in  return. 

(Signed)  A.  A.  HUMPHRIES, 

Chief  of  Staff." 

General  Davies  the  same  day  replies : 

"MAJOR-GENERAL  HUMPHRIES, 

Chief  of  Staff,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

GENERAL:  Upon  the  information  in  your  last  communica 
tion  I  will  move  all  the  available  force  of  this  division  down 
the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  instructing  General  Kautz  to  move 
out  in  pursuit  with  a  view  of  cutting  them  off  between  here 
and  the  river." 

September  i/th  General  Kautz  despatches  to  General 
Grant  from  Baxter's  Mills : 

"I  have  returned  thus  far  from  the  pursuit  of  Hampton's 
forces.  I  followed  him  to  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  and  my 
advance  skirmished  last  night  with  what  I  presumed  to  be  his 
rear  guard.  I  thought  it  possible  it  might  be  Gregg's  forces 
and  fell  back  about  two  miles.  *  *  *  This  morning  I  sent 
a  scout  to  the  Plank  Road  and  found  no  enemy.  *  *  *  He 
drove  the  cattle  more  than  thirty  miles,  and  very  few  were  left 
in  the  road.  I  was  disappointed  not  to  effect  a  junction  with 
General  Gregg's  forces." 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  following  from  Grant  to  Kautz 
of  the  1 6th  that  Kautz,  besides  his  division  of  cavalry,  had 
been  reinforced  by  a  brigade  or  more  of  infantry. 


294  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

"HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

Sept.  1 6th,  1864.     840  A.  M. 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL  KAUTZ, 

Commanding  Cavalry  Division : 

Colonel  Smyth,  commanding  Second  Division,  Second 
Corps,  is  ordered  to  send  you  a  brigade  of  infantry  immedi 
ately,  and  to  hold  the  remainder  of  the  division  ready  to  fol 
low.  General  Hunt  will  send  you  a  battery  of  artillery.  *  *  * 

A.  A.  HUMPHRIES, 
Major-General  and  Chief  of  Staff." 

The  success  of  Hampton  in  securing  the  cattle  and 
defeating  the  forces  sent  to  intercept  him,  had  to  be 
accounted  for  by  the  Federal  subalterns  to  their  superiors, 
especially  to  the  commander-in-chief.  Hence  Meade 
attributes  it  to  Hampton's  superior  numbers,  which  he 
estimated  to  be  6,000.  Kautz  had  it  from  a  reliable  citizen 
that  the  Confederates  numbered  14,000,  of  whom  a  large 
part  was  infantry. 

From  the  various  reports  and  despatches  relating  to  the 
Cattle  raid,  which  fill  not  less  than  fifteen  pages  of  Volume 
XLII.  Series  I,  of  the  United  States  War  Records,  from 
which  the  foregoing  reports  and  despatches  have  been 
taken,  it  can  be  shown  that,  while  the  Confederate  raiding 
column  largely  outnumbered  the  force  protecting  the  cattle, 
the  forces  of  Gregg  and  Kautz  sent  out  to  intercept  Hamp 
ton  outnumbered  his  available  forces  two  to  one.  Besides 
Hampton's  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  in  the  attack  near 
Sycamore  Church,  a  considerable  number  of  his  troopers 
v%ere  sent  with  the  captured  prisoners  and  cattle,  greatly 
reducing  his  force  opposing  Kautz  and  Gregg. 

While  the  divisions  of  Gregg  and  Kautz  had  been  quickly 
despatched  to  intercept  Hampton  on  the  Jerusalem  Plank 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  295 

Road,  this  had  been  expected  and  prepared  for  by  Hamp 
ton,  who  had  ordered  Rosser,  with  the  artillery  under 
Chew,  to  hold  that  road  at  a  point  east  of  the  Weldon 
Railroad  some  distance  below  Petersburg.  W.  H.  F.  Lee's 
division  was  assigned  to  protect  his  rear,  Bearing's  bri 
gade  and  Miller  being  ordered  to  support  Rosser. 

Rosser  sent  White  ahead  with  his  battalion  to  look  out 
for  the  enemy  on  the  Plank  Road.  White  had  hardly  got 
ten  into  position  before  the  Federals  appeared  in  heavy 
force — a  whole  division. 

White  with  characteristic  audacity  blocked  the  way  with 
an  attitude  of  defiance  that  suggested  that  he  had  strong 
backing.  It  was  a  fine  play  of  bluff.  The  Federals  moved 
slowly  and  cautiously  forward.  Wrhite  now  fighting  and 
falling  back,  but  moving  his  men  from  point  to  point, 
deceived  the  enemy  as  to  his  numbers.  Soon  Rosser  came 
up  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  and  the  Federals  were 
attacked  and  driven  back.  Ordered  by  Hampton  to  make 
a  firm  stand  at  Ebenezer  Church,  Rosser  promptly  took 
position  there.  Behind  him  about  three  miles  the  captured 
herd  was  crossing  the  Plank  Road.  Everything  now 
depended  on  his  keeping  the  enemy  back.  On  pressed  the 
Federals  in  a  heavy  column  with  flanking  parties.  It  was 
Kautz  reinforced  by  the  division  of  Gregg.  Their  artil 
lery,  numerous  and  well  handled,  swept  the  road  and  the 
adjacent  fields  with  shot  and  shell,  and  under  cover  of  this 
fire  their  whole  line  advanced.  Rosser  with  dismounted 
men  on  his  flanks  and  mounted  squadrons  in  the  road  never 
yielded  an  inch,  but  hurled  his  regiments  against  them  shat 
tering  the  head  of  the  blue  column  and  driving  it  back  some 
distance. 


296  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  Federals,  realizing  that  this  was  the  only  opportu 
nity  to  recapture  the  valuable  prize  in  Hampton's  posses 
sion,  made  an  effort  to  break  through  his  line  at  this  point. 
But  Rosser  held  his  ground  steadily  until  reinforced  by 
Bearing  and  Miller,  Lee  also  having  been  ordered  to  form 
on  the  right.  Colonel  Chew  had  already  taken  position  with 
his  guns,  and  the  Federal  artillerists  were  soon  forced  to 
give  him  their  attention.  "After  a  heavy  cannonade  of  an 
hour  he  completely  silenced  the  guns  of  the  enemy."4  Being 
repulsed  repeatedly  the  Federals  withdrew  after  dark. 
Hampton,  fearing  a  movement  towards  his  left,  also  retired, 
and  the  whole  command  bivouacked  for  the  night  near 
Wilkinson's  Bridge. 

Next  day  the  subdivisions  of  the  raiding  column  returned 
to  their  respective  camps,  the  mighty,  bellowing  drove  of 
fat  beeves  that  preceded  them  having  already  conveyed  to 
the  army  the  news  of  their  brilliant  success. 

The  expedition  had  been  absent  three  days,  during  which 
time  it  had  marched  upwards  of  100  miles,  defeating  the 
enemy  in  two  fights,  and  bringing  from  behind  his  lines  in 
safety  2,486  cattle,  a  large  amount  of  captured  property, 
together  with  304  prisoners.  The  Confederate  loss  was  ten 
killed,  forty-seven  wounded,  and  four  missing. 

Genl.  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  on  the  i/th,  sent  a  despatch 
to  General  Meade  saying: 

'The  cavalry  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  captured  cattle  have 
returned,  having  found  all  avenues  of  approach  so  strongly 
held  by  the  enemy  as  to  prevent  any  attempt  on  their  part  to 
recapture  the  cattle." 

4Hampton's  Report. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  297 

September  the  2Oth  General  Grant,  in  a  communication 
to  General  Meade,  says : 

"General  Lee  claims  in  an  official  despatch  that  in  driving 
back  our  pickets  they  captured  ninety  men  from  us.  In  the 
cavalry  fight  he  claims  to  have  captured  300  prisoners,  a  large 
amount  of  horses  and  some  arms,  besides  2,500  cattle.  The 
ease  with  which  our  men  of  late  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy  would  indicate  that  they  are  rather  willing  prisoners." 

The  caution  with  which  Hampton  conducted  this  expedi 
tion,  his  frequent  halting  of  the  column  waiting  informa 
tion  from  his  scouts  as  to  the  latest  situation  within  the 
camp  of  the  enemy,  the  silence  enjoined  upon  the  men,  and 
the  stealthiness  generally  that  marked  his  approach,  together 
with  the  careful  assignment  of  each  subdivision  of  his  com 
mand,  providing  as  well  for  his  return  as  for  the  attack, 
marked  him  as  a  cavalry  leader  of  the  most  commanding 
genius.  While  great  praise  is  due  to  Generals  Lee  and 
Bearing,  and  to  Colonel  Miller,  for  their  hard  fighting  in 
keeping  the  way  open  and  protected  against  the  vastly 
superior  forces  of  Kautz  and  Gregg,  yet  the  most  conspic 
uous  service,  the  central  attack  and  capture  of  the  cattle, 
devolved  upon  the  Laurel  Brigade,  and  was  duly  acknowl 
edged  by  Hampton  in  the  following  report : 

"The  enemy  had  a  strong  position,  and  the  approaches  to  it 
being  barricaded,  he  had  time  to  rally  in  the  woods  around 
his  camp,  where  for  some  time  he  fought  as  stubbornly  as  I 
have  ever  seen  him  do.  But  the  determination  and  gallantry 
of  Rosser's  men  proved  too  much  for  him,  and  he  was  com 
pletely  routed,  leaving  his  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field." 


298  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  success  of  the  expedition  was  highly  gratifying  to 
Genl.  Robert  E.  Lee,  and  expressed  by  him  to  General 
Hampton,  who  in  just  pride  promulgated  the  following 
order : 

"General  Order  No.  2. 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  CORPS, 
ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA. 

The  Major-General  commanding  takes  pride  in  communi 
cating  to  his  command  the  praise  which  their  recent  achieve 
ment  has  won  from  the  Commanding  General,  who,  in 
acknowledging  his  report  of  the  successful  return  of  his  com 
mand  from  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  army,  says :  'You  will 
please  convey  to  the  officers  and  men  of  your  command  my 
thanks  for  the  courage  and  energy  with  which  they  executed 
your  orders,  by  which  they  have  added  another  to  the  list  of 
important  services  rendered  by  the  cavalry  during  the  present 
campaign.' 

To  such  praise  the  Major-General  Commanding  would  only 
add  the  expression  of  his  own  appreciation  of  the  gallantry 
of  his  officers  and  men,  whose  conduct  in  battle  is  all  he  could 
desire,  and  inspires  him  with  pride  and  perfect  confidence  in 
such  a  command. 

By  command  of  MAJ.-GEN.  WADE  HAMPTON. 

H.  B.  MCCLELLAN,  Assistant  Adjutant-General." 


CHAPTER  XI 

September,  18G4 

The  return  to  the  Valley — Tedious  march  and  wornout  horses — Eager 
to  avenge  the  outrages  of  Sheridan — Federals  devastate  the 
Shenandoah  Valley — Fitz  Lee  having  been  wounded,  Rosser  com 
mands  the  Cavalry  Division — Fight  at  Mill  Creek — Toms  Brook — 
A  much-mooted  night  attempt  to  surprise  and  bag  Custer — Cedar 
Creek — Brent's  Farm — Fighting  on  the  Back  Road — Death  of 
Lieut. -Col.  Thomas  Marshall — Brigade  camps  and  rests  at  Fisher's 
Hill  and  Timberville — Kershaw's  division  and  Crosby's  brigade  of 
cavalry  withdrawn  from  Early's  army — Sheridan  with  superior 
numbers  hesitates  to  attack  Early. 

After  the  Cattle  raid  the  Laurels  had  a  week  of  rest,  dur 
ing  which  time  came  the  pleasant  rumor  that  the  brigade 
would  soon  be  ordered  to  the  Valley.  News  that  reached 
camp  from  that  section  was  depressing.  Sheridan  was 
reported  as  marching  through  the  Valley  counties  with  fire 
and  sword;  and  the  letters  from  home  telling  of  the  desola 
tion  made  by  his  soldiers  kindled  a  strong  desire  among  the 
men  to  go  and  defend  their  firesides  and  punish  Sheridan. 

On  the  26th  of  September  orders  were  issued  to  prepare 
to  move  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  The  preparations  were 
made  with  much  rejoicing.  Little  attention  was  given  to 
the  details  of  packing,  all  being  absorbed  with  the  single 
thought  of  getting  off  as  soon  as  possible. 

On  the  27th  the  brigade  moved  under  the  command  of 
Col.  R.  H.  Dulany;  Rosser  and  his  staff  going  in  advance 
by  rail,  via  Lynchburg  to  Staunton. 


300  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

By  the  3Oth  the  column  had  reached  Lynchburg,  and 
thence  continuing  through  Lexington  arrived  late  in  the 
evening  of  October  5th  in  front  of  the  enemy  at  Bridge- 
water.  The  march  had  been  a  long  and  hard  one.  When 
the  brigade  went  into  camp  at  Bridgewater  the  ranks  had 
been  thinned  by  the  length  and  fatigue  of  the  journey. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th  the  troopers  awoke  somewhat 
refreshed  by  deep  slumbers,  and  though  needing  more  rest, 
the  sight  of  the  burning  barns  and  stack-yards  banished 
everything  from  their  minds  but  thoughts  of  vengeance. 
The  fires  of  destruction  were  partly  visible.  Clouds  of 
smoke  hung  across  the  Valley,  extending  from  the  Blue 
Ridge  to  the  North  Mountain,  hiding  the  movements  of  the 
incendiaries,  but  clearly  showing  the  fiendish  character  of 
their  work. 

Fitz  Lee  had  been  badly  wounded  at  Winchester,  and 
was  still  absent  from  the  field.  To  his  division,  consisting 
of  Wickham's  and  Payne's  brigades,  the  Laurels  were  tem 
porarily  assigned,  and  the  whole  put  under  the  command 
of  General  Rosser,  Col.  R.  H.  Dulany  taking  command  of 
the  brigade. 

Rosser  found  Fitz  Lee's  division  thinned  and  exhausted 
by  a  long  and  unequal  contest  with  Sheridan's  greatly 
superior  force  of  Federal  cavalry.  His  own  brigade  was 
much  reduced  in  numbers  by  the  toilsome  forced  march 
from  beyond  Petersburg,  but  the  men,  many  of  whom 
lived  in  the  Valley  and  were  now  on  their  native  heath, 
were  eager  to  engage  the  enemy. 

It  was  soon  discovered  that  Sheridan  was  retreating,  and 
the  Confederates  moved  rapidly  in  pursuit.  As  they 
advanced  the  sight  of  the  burnt  barns  and  stack-yards,  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  301 

occasionally  of  dwelling-houses,  inflamed  them  with  rage. 
Groups  of  houseless  women  and  children,  who  had  been 
robbed  of  every  means  of  sustenance,  stood  near  the  way 
side  bemoaning  their  fate. 

With  zeal  quickened  by  such  new  scenes  of  desolation, 
the  Laurels  galloped  forward  and  late  in  the  evening  over 
took  the  rear  guard  of  Custer's  cavalry  near  Brock's  Gap. 
Here  a  spirited  skirmish  ensued,  and  the  Federals  being 
worsted  withdrew  across  Dry  River.  Custer  posting  his 
artillery  on  the  high  ground  on  the  other  side,  kept  Rosser 
at  bay  until  night,  and  then  under  cover  of  darkness  con 
tinued  his  retreat  in  company  with  Sheridan's  whole  army. 

During  the  whole  night  the  work  of  destruction  went  on. 
Every  kind  of  provender  for  cattle  and  food  for  men  was 
burnt,  while  the  live  stock  of  every  kind  was  driven  off. 
The  burning  parties  distributed  across  the  Valley  swept  it 
with  the  fire  of  desolation.  Every  home  was  visited,  the 
proud  mansion  and  the  humble  cottage  feeling  alike  the 
blasting  and  savage  hand  of  war. 

At  dawn  the  next  morning  Rosser's  whole  force  was  in 
the  saddle,  and  straightway  began  a  vigorous  pursuit  of  the 
enemy. 

To  understand  the  several  cavalry  actions  in  which  the 
Laurels  participated  in  the  weeks  following,  some  knowl 
edge  is  necessary  of  the  relative  positions  of  the  main  roads 
that  traverse  the  Valley  between  Harrisonburg  and  Win 
chester.  Three  roads  run  nearly  parallel  the  whole  length 
of  this  tract,  the  Valley  turnpike  along  the  eastern  border, 
the  Back  Road  skirting  the  foothills  of  the  North  Moun 
tain,  and  the  Middle  Road  between  the  two.  The  last  two 
are  hilly  and  rough,  but  the  Back  Road,  which  occasionally 


302  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

hugs  the  jutting  spurs  of  the  North  Mountain,  is  especially 
so.  It  was  along  the  latter  that  Custer  retired  with  the 
flocks  and  herds  and  other  movables  he  had  taken  from  the 
doomed  inhabitants  of  the  burnt  district.  The  broken  and 
steep  approaches  to  the  crossings  of  the  mountain  streams 
afforded  admirable  positions  of  advantage  for  defense. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  evening  Rosser's  pursuing 
column  overtook  the  enemy  at  Mill  Creek,  the  Laurels 
under  Colonel  Dnlany  in  the  lead.  On  the  opposite  bank  of 
this  stream  the  Federals  were  discovered  in  force  and 
strongly  posted.  Colonel  Dulany  was  ordered  to  take  a 
part  of  the  Seventh  and  White's  Battalion  and  cross  at  a 
lower  ford.  This  he  accomplished  without  molestation, 
but  it  quickly  appeared  that  the  flanking  column  was  not 
unobserved.  No  sooner  had  it  crossed  than  it  was  con 
fronted  by  a  body  of  Federal  horse  which,  though  it  had 
come  too  late  to  hold  the  ford,  stood  ready  to  block  the  way 
of  the  Confederates. 

Dulany  at  once  ordered  a  charge.  Capt.  Dan  Hatcher, 
commanding  the  First  Squadron  of  the  Seventh,  led  with 
his  customary  dash,  and  executed  a  movement  that  quite 
disconcerted  the  enemy.  While  advancing  he  adroitly 
turned  to  the  left,  then  quickly  wheeling  to  the  right,  struck 
the  Federals  on  the  half  flank  just  as  Dulany  with  the  rest 
of  his  force  charged  full  in  front.  The  Federals  taken  by 
surprise,  after  a  feeble  resistance  turned  and  fled  up  the 
creek,  halting  on  a  hill  near  their  main  body.  Beyond  them 
could  be  seen  their  wagon  train  and  droves  of  sheep  and 
cattle,  a  prize  worth  fighting  for. 

White's  Battalion,  under  Captain  Myers,  now  charged 
the  force  on  the  hill,  while  Rosser,  pressing  forward  his 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  303 

column,  with  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  regiments  in  front, 
burst  across  the  ford  and  assaulted  the  main  body. 

The  Confederates,  eager  to  get  within  sword  range  of  the 
detested  barn-burners,  rode  at  them  furiously.  The  Fed 
erals  fought  bravely,  but  could  not  withstand  men  who 
were  seeking  vengeance  rather  than  victory. 

The  fight  that  began  at  Mill  Creek  lasted  until  night, 
being  renewed  whenever  the  Federals  attempted  a  rally, 
and  the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  considerable.  Darkness 
coming  on,  Rosser  ceased  to  pursue,  while  Custer  moved 
on. 

It  was  not  until  noon  the  next  day  that  the  Confederates 
again  overtook  the  Federals,  who,  as  before,  fell  back  down 
the  Back  Road  all  the  way  to  Toms  Brook  and  across  it. 
Rosser  followed  Custer  more  than  twenty-five  miles  beyond 
New  Market,  where  Early  had  halted  his  infantry. 

Beyond  Toms  Brook  Custer  doubled  and  attempted  to 
get  in  Rosser's  rear,  having  first  moved  off  towards  the 
turnpike.  Rosser,  already  perilously  far  in  Sheridan's  rear, 
divined  Custer's  purpose,  and  turned  back  in  time  to  pre 
vent  its  accomplishment.  With  a  dashing  sabre  charge 
Custer's  column  was  again  driven  off  the  Back  Road,  and  the 
Confederates  recrossed  Toms  Brook  and  went  into  camp. 

For  two  days  the  Confederates  had  been  driving  and 
chasing  Custer's  detested  barn-burners.  The  Laurels, 
blinded  with  rage  at  the  sight  of  their  ruined  homes,  had 
struck  with  savage  fury.  Impelled  by  a  sense  of  personal 
injury,  they  had  dashed  on  counting  no  odds  and  taking  all 
risks.  Custer's  men  had  repeatedly  quailed  before  their 
onset,  and  seemed  to  severely  avoid  an  encounter  with  the 
men  whose  families  had  suffered  so  much  at  their  hands. 


304  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

But  now  that  bloody  punishment  had  been  inflicted  upon 
the  enemy,  though  a  sense  of  superiority  remained,  the  pas 
sion  for  revenge,  somewhat  satiated,  began  to  cool;  and 
when  the  Laurels  first  began  to  retrace  their  steps,  they 
found  occasion  for  sober  thought.  That  night,  when 
gathered  around  their  camp-fires  on  the  high  ground  south 
of  Toms  Brook,  they  could  not  avoid  thinking  of  their  situ 
ation.  All  knew  the  country  well,  and  were  not  ignorant 
of  the  fact  that  Early  with  his  infantry  was  twenty-five 
miles  away  to  the  rear,  while  Sheridan's  whole  army  was 
camped  near  by. 

The  numerous  camp-fires  of  the  Federal  cavalry  indi 
cated,  without  much  if  any  exaggeration,  the  greatly 
superior  strength  of  Sheridan's  mounted  force. 

Says  Pond  in  his  "Shenandoah  Valley  in  1864"  : 

"The  assurance  with  which  Rosser  challenged  Custer  all  the 
way  down  from  Harrisonburg,  showed  that  he  had  no  concep 
tion  of  Sheridan's  mounted  strength,  though  his  fatal  zeal  was 
probably  due  in  part  to  the  excitement  of  his  men  at  seeing 
their  barns  and  houses  in  flames ;  for  many  of  Early's  cavalry 
men  were  from  this  region.  Their  eagerness  to  exact  retribu 
tion  brought  upon  them  double  mortification  and  suffering." 

Perhaps  the  Laurels  did  feel  some  pangs  of  remorse  for 
the  bloody  retribution  they  had  exacted.  At  all  events  they 
lay  down  that  night  with  a  sense  of  insecurity,  which  only 
yielded  to  a  strong  faith  in  the  genius  of  their  fearless 
commander.  Rosser  himself  was  not  without  misgivings. 
At  one  time  he  thought  seriously  of  withdrawing  during 
the  night.  Some  of  his  officers  tried  to  pursuade  him  to  do 


CAPT.    J.    W.    CARTER 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  305 

so;  but  regarding  Early's  orders  as  imperative,  he  deter 
mined  to  stay  where  he  was,  thinking  that  if  pressed  by  an 
overwhelming  force  on  the  morrow,  it  would  be  quite  easy 
to  retire  in  good  order  before  an  enemy  whom  he  had  driven 
pell-mell  for  two  days. 

At  dawn  on  the  morning  of  the  Qth,  the  Federals  were 
in  the  saddle  and  were  observed  to  be  moving  into  position 
along  Toms  Brook. 

In  the  fights  of  the  two  preceding  days  the  greatly 
superior  numbers  of  the  enemy  had  either  not  been  noticed 
or  were  disregarded.  Now,  as  squadron  after  squadron  de 
ployed  in  full  view,  the  inequality  of  the  contest  was  mani 
fest.  Rosser  had  all  told  less  than  2,000  men,  probably  not 
more  than  1,500,  while  opposed  to  him  were  at  least  4,000 
Federals,  freshly  mounted  and  armed  with  the  Spencer 
seven-shooter  carbines,  which  were  effective  at  over  1,000 
yards. 

Wickham's  brigade,  under  Colonel  Munford,  held  Ros- 
ser's  left,  resting  its  right  on  the  Back  Road.  Near  by  on 
the  right  of  this  road  were  posted  two  pieces  of  Thomp 
son's  Battery  under  Carter,  supported  by  William  Payne's 
small  brigade  of  about  300  men.  The  right  of  Rossers 
line  was  held  by  the  Laurel  Brigade  under  Col.  R.  H. 
Dulany.  The  Seventh  occupied  the  center  of  the  brigade 
line,  supporting  the  dismounted  sharpshooters  of  the 
Eleventh.  On  its  right  was  the  Twelfth  mounted  in  single 
battle  line,  with  White's  Battalion  mounted  on  its  left. 

The  fighting  began  all  along  the  front  with  little  prelim 
inary  demonstration.  Sheridan  had  ordered  General  Tor- 
bert  commanding  Merrit's  and  Custer's  divisions  of  cavalry, 
"to  start  out  at  daylight  and  whip  the  Rebel  cavalry  or  get 


306  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

whipped  himself."  The  command  was  imperative  for  the 
the  Federal  horse  to  assume  the  offensive,  and  it  went  to 
the  work  with  promptness  and  activity.  A  heavy  line  of 
sharpshooters  advanced,  supported  by  numerous  bodies  of 
mounted  men.  Every  opening  disclosed  moving  masses  of 
bluecoats,  and  soon  they  advanced,  covering  the  hill  slopes 
and  blocking  the  roads  with  apparently  countless  squadrons. 

It  needed  but  a  glance  at  the  oncoming  foe  to  start  Car 
ter's  guns  to  action.  The  intervening  woods  at  first  partly 
obscured  them  from  view,  but  at  every  flash  of  blue  through 
the  trees,  Carter  sent  a  shot  of  defiance.  The  enemy's  guns, 
greatly  superior  in  number  and  admirably  posted,  now 
challenged  his  attention,  and  the  Federal  horse,  taking 
advantage  of  this  diversion,  in  dense  swarms  moved  steadily 
forward.  The  sharpshooters  on  both  sides  were  busy,  those 
of  the  enemy  pressing  on  with  confidence. 

On  Dulany's  front  their  audacity  was  severely  punished 
by  charges  from  the  Twelfth  and  White's  Battalion,  which 
drove  them  back  in  confusion.  Confident  in  numbers  and 
heavily  supported,  they  reformed  and  again  advanced. 
Meantime  they  were  getting  near  Carter's  guns  on  Dulany's 
left. 

While  their  long  and  heavy  battle  line  began  to  envelop 
Rosser's  left  flank,  held  by  Wickham's  brigade,  Carter  saw 
his  danger  and  worked  his  guns  with  redoubled  energy. 

From  several  directions  mounted  and  dismounted  bodies 
of  the  enemy  were  coming  eager  to  seize  the  prize,  while  a 
superior  number  of  Federal  pieces,  from  positions  of  secur 
ity,  sent  bomb  after  bomb  at  the  doomed  battery.  But 
Carter  never  flinched  for  a  moment.  Often  before  his  won 
derful  pluck,  and  the  gallantry  of  his  men,  had  saved  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  307 

guns.  Perhaps  it  could  be  done  again,  at  least  they  thought 
it  worth  the  effort,  and  their  well-directed  shots  made  the 
enemy  waver.  But  Custer  had  gotten  around  Rosser's  left 
flank,  Wickham's  brigade  had  withdrawn,  and  the  Back 
Road  near  by,  and  to  the  left  of  Carter's  position,  was 
swarming  with  bluecoats. 

With  a  shout  the  Federal  squadrons  that  had  recoiled 
before  Carter's  fire  renewed  their  efforts  to  take  his  guns, 
which  continued  to  send  grape  and  shrapnel  into  their 
ranks.  It  was  a  desperate  chance,  but  the  gallant  Payne 
made  a  heroic  effort  to  save  the  guns.  Straight  across  the 
slope,  with  banner  flying  and  sabres  flashing,  rode  his  men 
right  at  the  crowding  Federals,  Payne  and  Rosser  in  the 
forefront.  It  was  too  late ;  the  enemy  was  among  the  guns, 
and  Payne,  almost  surrounded,  fell  back. 

But  the  Laurels,  under  Dulany,  were  holding  the  enemy 
at  bay. 

White's  men,  under  Lieut.  N.  Dorsey,  had  met  the  onset 
of  the  bold  Federals  with  a  countercharge.  The  Eleventh 
dismounted  as  sharpshooters,  presented  a  steady  front, 
while  the  mounted  men  of  the  Twelfth  repulsed  all  efforts 
of  the  enemy  to  advance  upon  them.  At  this  juncture  Col 
onel  Dulany  was  wounded  and  had  to  leave  the  field,  but 
the  Laurels  were  still  facing  and  threatening  the  enemy. 
After  the  artillery  on  the  left  had  been  taken,  and  the  enemy 
in  pursuit  of  Munford's  brigade  were  far  past  their  front 
and  towards  the  rear,  nothing  remained  for  Rosser  but  to 
retire,  which  he  did  after  covering  the  dismounted  men 
until  they  had  gained  their  horses. 

About  this  time  Captain  Emmet,  a  gallant  officer  of  Ros 
ser's  staff,  was  seriously  wounded. 


308  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Custer  pushed  his  advantage  vigorously,  and  was  only 
prevented  from  producing  a  panic  by  Rosser's  coolness  in 
handling  his  rear  guard,  which,  by  dashing  charges,  repelled 
the  most  aggressive  of  the  enemy's  advance  squadrons. 

About  two  miles  from  Toms  Brook  Rosser  attempted  to 
make  a  stand  and  retrieve  his  fortune,  but  the  numbers  and 
activity  of  the  Federals  forced  him  back  in  some  confusion, 
and  he  withdrew  his  division  as  far  as  Columbia  Furnace. 

In  this  fight,  the  greatest  loss  the  Laurels  suffered  was 
the  two  guns  of  Thompson's  Battery,  and  it  was  a  source 
of  great  regret  and  some  mortification  to  them.  Although 
they  were  not  to  blame,  they  chafed  greatly  under  the  dis 
aster  and  were  anxious  for  revenge,  while  Rosser  was  still 
more  eager  for  an  opportunity  to  get  even  with  Custer. 

With  this  end  in  view  he  had  his  scouts  watching  Cus- 
ter's  division  and  making  daily  reports  of  his  camping- 
ground.  He  was  waiting  for  a  chance  of  finding  him 
bivoucking  away  from  Sheridan's  infantry. 

At  last  it  seemed  as  if  the  longed-for  occasion  had  arrived. 
Custer  was  reported  to  have  gone  into  camp  near  Old 
Forge,  a  point  several  miles  distant  from  Sheridan's  main 
body,  and  easily  approached  without  discovery  by  a  column 
moving  along  the  blind  roads  at  the  foot  of  North  Moun 
tain. 

Rosser,  after  obtaining  Early's  consent,  took  500  picked 
men  from  his  cavalry,  and  mounting  Grimes'  brigade  of 
infantry  behind  them,  started  out  after  dark  to  "bag  Cus 
ter."  It  was  on  the  night  of  the  ifth  of  October,  eight  days 
after  Toms  Brook. 

No  moon  was  shining,  and  the  light  of  the  stars  was 
dimmed  by  fleecy  clouds  that  floated  across  the  sky.  The 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  309 

column  seemed  to  move  with  muffled  tread  over  the  stony 
road,  that  wound  with  snakelike  curves  around  the  spurs  of 
North  Mountain.  Upon  reaching  the  place  where  it  was 
necessary  to  turn  to  the  right  and  cross  the  low  ground 
towards  the  enemy's  rear,  a  halt  was  made.  Here  Rosser 
had  arranged  for  a  trusty  scout  to  meet  him  and  make 
further  report  of  Custer's  position.  The  scout  was  near  by, 
but  did  not  make  himself  known,  for  some  reason  he  mis 
took  the  Confederates  for  Federals,  and  remained  concealed 
in  the  bushes  by  the  roadside.  This  was  a  disappointment. 
Rosser  moved  on  cautiously.  Upon  coming  near  what  was 
supposed  to  be  Custer's  camp,  the  Confederate  force  was 
divided  in  order  that  the  assault  might  be  made  from  two 
directions.  When  everything  was  ready,  at  a  given  signal, 
both  divisions  of  the  force  went  forward  with  a  rush,  to 
find  Custer  gone  and  nothing  but  a  small  picket  left  in  his 
old  camp.  This  was  captured  by  the  force  under  Rosser, 
but  owing  to  the  darkness,  some  of  the  men  in  the  other 
column,  under  Colonel  Funsten,  ignorant  of  the  state  of 
affairs,  mistook  Rosser's  column  for  the  enemy,  and  a  brisk 
skirmish  between  them  for  a  short  space  ensued.  A  plucky 
bugler  of  the  Eleventh,  noticing  the  hesitating  manner  of 
the  men  on  his  side,  increased  the  difficulty  by  blowing  a 
vociferous  charge,  for  he  drowned  the  voices  of  the  officers 
commanding  the  fire  to  cease.  At  last,  after  several  were 
wounded,  quiet  reigned  and  the  command  soon  set  out  for 
camp. 

On  the  return  the  column  passed  several  bluffs  from 
which  the  outposts  of  the  enemy  fired  down  upon  the  tired 
and  disappointed  raiders. 


310  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

This  bold  attempt  of  Rosser  to  capture  Custer  by  a  night 
attack,  convinced  the  Federals  that  the  spirit  of  the  Con 
federate  horse  had  recovered  from  the  defeat  at  Toms 
Brook.  The  effect,  however,  as  the  sequel  showed,  was  a 
bad  one  for  the  Confederates,  for  it  put  the  enemy  on  the 
alert;  and  when,  two  days  after,  Rosser  advanced  with 
Early  across  Cedar  Creek,  the  cavalry  on  Sheridan's 
right  flank  was  the  only  part  of  Sheridan's  army  that  was 
not  surprised. 

On  the  memorable  iQth,  the  day  that  opened  with  so 
much  promise  and  closed  with  so  much  disaster  for  the 
Confederates,  Rosser  with  Wickham's  and  his  own  brigade 
crossed  Cedar  Creek  before  daylight,  and  attacked  the 
enemy's  cavalry;  Colonel  Funsten  commanding  the  Lau 
rels,  and  Colonel  Owen  of  the  Third  Virginia  Cavalry,  com 
manding  Wickham's  brigade,  which  \vas  dismounted.  The 
enemy  was  in  heavy  force  and  fully  prepared.  Still  the 
vigorous  advance  of  Rosser  alarmed  the  Federal  chief  of 
cavalry.  "Torbert's  first  effort  was  to  check  Rosser,  who 
appeared  on  the  Back  Road  and  attacked  Custer."1  After 
some  hard  fighting,  mainly  done  by  Owen's  dismounted 
men,  Rosser  steadily  advanced,  driving  the  enemy,  who 
left  his  camps,  killed,  and  wounded  in  our  hands. 

Early 's  successful  attack  had  routed  Sheridan's  infantry, 
and  Rosser  pressed  forward  on  his  left  until  the  foot  sol 
diers  of  the  enemy  could  be  plainly  seen  flying  in  great  con 
fusion  down  the  Valley  turnpike  towards  New  Town.  In 
sight  of  their  broken  columns  Rosser  halted,  for  in  front  of 
him  was  a  greatly  superior  force  of  Federal  cavalry. 


iPond's  "Shenandoah  Valley,"  page  23. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  311 

For  several  hours  there  was  now  a  profound  lull  all  along 
the  battle  front,  and  many  wondered  what  it  meant. 

The  brigade  with  the  rest  of  the  division  halted  massed 
in  squadrons,  some  in  the  timber  and  some  in  the  fields  in 
low  valleys.  Not  a  few  of  the  men  got  off  their  horses  and, 
exhausted  by  the  morning's  work,  fell  asleep. 

In  the  meantime  the  Federals  were  not  idle.  The  com 
plete  rout  of  their  left  called  for  reinforcements  there. 
Torbert  moved  the  greater  part  of  his  cavalry  force  thither, 
leaving  only  a  few  regiments  in  front  of  Rosser. 

This  transfer  was,  however,  unperceived  by  Early  as 
well  as  Rosser,  and  both  remained  under  the  conviction  that 
all  day  long  there  was  an  overwhelming  force  of  cavalry  in 
Rosser's  front. 

About  three  o'clock,  the  ominous  stillness  was  broken 
by  rapid  artillery  firing  near  Rosser's  front,  where  Colonel 
Funsten  with  the  brigade  was  resting  in  careless  security. 
The  enemy  seemed  to  be  advancing  with  great  confidence. 
The  bombs  from  their  guns  fell  among  Funsten's  squad 
rons,  and  were  the  first  intimation  of  their  nearness  in 
force. 

Of  course  great  confusion  ensued,  and  there  was  mount 
ing  in  hot  haste.  Rosser  assuming  that  Custer's  whole 
force  was  moving  down  upon  him,  ordered  his  two  brigades 
to  fall  back.  Colonel  Funsten  was  doing  his  best  to  retire 
in  order,  but  the  shrieking  bombs  were  bursting  in  his  half- 
formed  column,  and  a  number  of  the  men  broke  ranks. 
Besides  a  heavy  column  of  the  enemy  was  close  at  hand, 
who,  at  the  sight  of  disorder  among  the  Confederates, 
were  encouraged  to  come  on  at  a  charge. 


312  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Maj.  E.  H.  McDonald,  commanding  the  Eleventh,  fear 
ing  a  panic  might  ensue,  hastily  formed  about  fifty  men  of 
the  Eleventh  in  battle  line  and,  without  waiting  to  receive 
the  onset  of  the  Federals,  advanced  to  meet  them,  obliquing 
first  to  the  right  so  as  to  take  them  in  flank. 

It  looked  as  if  this  small  Confederate  band  was  inviting 
destruction.  Behind  them  was  the  division  falling  back, 
before  them  a  force  of  the  enemy  ten  times  their  number, 
actually  encouraging  them  with  shouts  to  come  on,  so  con 
fident  were  they  of  capturing  them. 

But  the  Federals  themselves  were  in  some  confusion,  a 
few  of  the  bravest  far  in  advance.  As  McDonald's  men 
came  on  in  battle  line  they  presented  a  steady  front, 
increasing  their  speed  when  they  saw  the  foremost  Federals 
begin  to  hesitate.  For  when  the  latter  stopped,  for  the 
rear  of  their  column  to  close  up,  the  whole  column  stopped ; 
the  men  of  the  Eleventh  now  pressing  on  with  shouts,  the 
Federals  turned  and  fled  and  were  chased  back  over  the 
hill  upon  which  was  planted  their  artillery. 

Rosser  now  withdrew  the  greater  part  of  his  division 
across  Cedar  Creek,  and  when,  later  in  the  evening, 
Sheridan,  heavily  reinforced,  routed  Early' s  infantry, 
Rosser  held  the  Back  Road  against  Custer's  cavalry. 

After  dark  Colonel  Funsten  was  ordered  to  hold  the 
infantry  trenches  at  Fisher's  Hill.  Here  the  brigade  spent 
the  night,  and  in  the  morning  marched  out  and  formed  the 
rear  guard  of  Early's  retreating  army. 

Everything  now  looked  extremely  blue,  and  the  cavalry 
were  jaded  for  lack  of  rest  and  loss  of  sleep. 

The  enemy,  content  with  his  great  victory,  made  but  a 
feeble  pursuit. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  313 

At  Edenburg  his  advance  column  first  appeared.  Here 
it  halted  and.  after  exchanging  a  few  shots,  turned  back. 

About  three  miles  beyond  Edenburg  the  brigade  went 
into  camp,  and  for  three  weeks  afterwards  formed  a  part 
of  Early's  cavalry  line  on  Stony  Creek. 

In  spite  of  heavy  disaster,  the  indomitable  Early  began 
to  reorganize  his  beaten  army  with  renewed  hope  and 
energy.  A  more  rigid  discipline  was  enforced,  among  the 
cavalry  at  least,  and  there  were  now  frequent  reviews  and 
inspections. 

On  November  the  gth,  orders  were  issued  to  the  brigade 
to  be  ready  to  march  next  morning  at  daylight,  with  corn 
for  horses  and  three  days'  rations.  Sheridan,  it  seemed, 
\vas  falling  back  and  Early  was  about  to  follow  him.  On 
the  loth  the  brigade  moved  down  the  Back  Road.  On  the 
nth  Rosser,  leaving  the  Eleventh  Regiment  at  Cedar 
Creek,  marched  with  the  rest  of  his  command  towards  New 
Town.  Near  this  place,  encountering  a  force  of  Federal 
cavalry,  he  charged  and  drove  it  as  far  as  the  Opequon, 
where  a  large  force  of  Federal  infantry  \vas  posted.  After 
a  brisk  skirmish  he  withdrew,  encamping  out  of  range  of 
the  enemy's  guns. 

The  Eleventh  Regiment,  under  Maj.  E.  H.  McDonald, 
left  a  squadron  on  picket  at  Snyder's  Church.  About  nine 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  I2th  this  squadron  was  driven 
in,  but  the  rest  of  the  regiment  arrived  in  time  to  check  the 
Federals  at  the  ford. 

Being  ordered  to  advance  down  the  Back  Road,  the 
Eleventh  was  just  on  the  point  of  starting,  when  a  strong 
column  of  Custer's  command  came  in  view,  moving  up  the 
road  with  confidence. 


314  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

A  sharp  fight  ensued.  The  high  bank  on  the  south  side 
of  Cedar  Creek  furnishing  vantage-ground,  the  Eleventh 
held  the  Federals  at  bay  until  the  Twelfth  and  Seventh, 
coming  up  from  the  direction  of  Middle  Town,  attacked 
the  enemy  vigorously  on  the  flank.  After  a  stubborn  resist 
ance  the  Federals  gave  way,  and  were  followed  for  several 
miles  by  the  victorious  Confederates. 

The  Seventh  and  Twelfth  were  now  withdrawn,  and 
joined  Rosser  with  the  rest  of  his  division  on  the  Middle 
Road,  where  a  formidable  body  of  Federal  cavalry  was 
threatening  an  advance.  The  Eleventh  only  was  left  on 
the  Back  Road,  Rosser  supposing  that  the  main  body  of  the 
enemy  was  on  the  Middle  Road,  where  they  appeared  in 
great  strength,  and  threatened  to  overwhelm  him  with 
superior  numbers. 

1  In  the  Toms  Brook  fight,  Rosser  had  to  contend  with 
Custer's  large  division  and  one  of  Merrit's  brigades,  but  on 
the  1 2th  of  November  both  of  these  divisions  confronted 
him,  each  nearly  double  his  own. 

Between  Rosser  and  the  Back  Road,  was  a  wooded  ridge 
not  easily  crossed  by  cavalry.  Beyond  it  was  a  fair  valley, 
through  the  middle  of  which  ran  the  Back  Road,  flanked 
on  either  side  with  small,  well-cultivated  farms;  each  house 
amid  a  cluster  of  trees,  with  garden  and  orchard  attached. 

While  Rosser  with  his  whole  division  except  the  Elev 
enth  remained,  observing  the  heavy  force  in  his  front,  Cus- 
ter  with  his  full  division  advanced  up  the  Back  Road. 
There  was  nothing  to  intercept  him  but  the  Eleventh,  under 
Maj.  E.  H.  McDonald,  which  met  him  about  a  half  a  mile  in 
advance  of  Rosser's  left.  Hastily  disposing  his  small  regi 
ment  into  four  squadrons,  Major  McDonald  prepared  to  do 


A  HISTORY  OB^  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  315 

the  best  he  could  against  a  superior  force,  by  deploying  two 
companies  as  skirmishers  on  his  flanks,  holding  the  others, 
formed  into  three  squadrons,  across  the  road. 

Custer  moved  forward  with  great  confidence.  To  the 
thin  array  of  Confederate  skirmishers  he  opposed  almost 
a  battle  line.  His  numerous  squadrons,  arranged  in  eche 
lon,  extended  entirely  across  the  valley,  while  the  road  was 
crowded  with  his  main  column. 

The  rattling  fire  of  the  skirmishers  began;  the  volleys  of 
the  Federals  answered  by  the  scattering  but  well-aimed 
shots  of  the  Confederates. 

The  Federals  pressed  forward,  but  the  Confederates,  tak 
ing  advantage  of  the  trees  and  outhouses,  held  their  ground 
with  persistent  valor. 

Custer's  main  column  now  moved  forward,  the  foremost 
squadrons  advancing  at  a  charge.  They  were  met  by  the 
Second  Squadron  of  the  Eleventh,  under  Captain  Dough 
erty.  For  a  brief  space  the  weight  of  the  heavy  column  and 
the  vigor  of  the  assault  seemed  resistless.  The  Confed 
erates  were  borne  back,  and  some  had  turned  to  retreat, 
but  the  gallant  Dougherty  recalled  them  to  duty.  They 
now  wheeled  and  turned  upon  the  foe.  At  their  fierce 
onslaught  the  Federals  gave  way.  Soon  Dougherty  was 
wounded  and  his  men  faltered.  The  Federals,  seeing  their 
hesitation,  again  pressed  forward,  and  the  First  Squadron 
was  broken  and  pursued.  But  the  victory  was  not  yet 
gained.  The  brave  skirmishers  on  the  flanks  were  still 
against  great  odds,  keeping  back  the  enemy.  As  the  Fed 
erals  galloped  forward  McDonald  hurled  at  them  the  First 
Squadron,  commanded  by  Capt.  Foxhall  Dangerfield.  It  was 
composed  of  two  veteran  companies  from  Bath  county,  men 


3i 6  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

accustomed  to  victory.  Mounted  on  good  horses,  these 
strong-armed  and  martial  sons  of  the  mountains,  dashed 
like  a  thunderbolt  at  the  head  of  the  pursuing  column.  The 
bluecoats  recoiled  before  this  furious  onset,  and  in  spite  of 
the  efforts  of  their  brave  officers,  began  to  give  ground. 
The  Bath  men  pressed  on,  dealing  deadly  blows  until  the 
enemy,  turning,  fled  in  disorder,  carrying  along  the  fresh 
squadrons  sent  to  their  aid.  For  several  hundred  yards  the 
Federals  were  followed.  Such  was  the  fury  of  the  assault, 
that  it  seemed  as  if  Custer's  whole  division  was  about  to  fall 
back.  The  main  body  in  the  road  appeared  staggered  and 
vacillating,  while  from  the  squadrons  on  the  flank  many 
men  broke  ranks,  and  were  beaten  back  into  line  by  the 
sergeants  with  their  swords.  But  it  was  now  evident  to 
Custer  how  small  was  the  force  opposed  to  his  division. 
Fresh  squadrons  were  put  to  the  front,  the  broken  ones 
reformed,  and  the  whole  division  moved  forward.  The 
Bath  men  were  pushed  back,  and  though  the  Third  Squad 
ron  came  to  their  aid,  it  too  was  driven,  and  the  Eleventh 
fell  back  in  disorder. 

In  the  meantime,  Rosser  had  sent  the  rest  of  the  brigade, 
the  Twelfth  and  Seventh,  under  Funsten,  to  McDonald's 
help.  They  reached  the  field  just  as  Custer  had  forced  the 
Eleventh  into  a  hasty  retreat.  But  in  passing  over  the 
ridge  along  a  blind  road  crossed  by  deep  gutters,  the  col 
umn  broke  into  single  file,  at  points,  and  reached  the  field 
in  bad  shape.  Custer  was  already  beyond  Rosser's  left,  and 
they  had  to  make  a  circuit  to  get  around  the  enemy  and  pass 
to  his  front.  Had  Funsten  moved  directly  against  their 
left  flank  the  result  might  have  been  different. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  317 

Pennington's  whole  brigade  was  now  advancing,  flushed 
with  success.  The  gallant  Col.  Thomas  Marshall,  ever 
ready  to  lead  a  forlorn  hope,  at  the  head  of  the  Seventh, 
now  much  scattered,  was  the  first  to  give  aid.  With  the 
part  of  the  Seventh  that  had  gotten  up  he  charged  the 
Federals  and  checked  them  for  a  moment.  It  was  like 
breasting  the  rush  of  waters ;  the  waves  rolled  around  him, 
and  Marshall  with  a  few  men  at  his  side  was  almost  sur 
rounded.  To  avoid  capture  he  turned  and,  after  going  a 
few  yards,  was  mortally  wounded,  amid  confusion,  much 
increased  by  the  fall  of  their  colonel.  None  was  more 
beloved  for  his  virtues;  surely  his  fall  was  a  heavy  blow. 

Colonel  Funsten  withdrew  across  Cedar  Creek  and 
attempted  to  hold  the  ford.  The  stand  made  here  was  suc 
cessful,  until  portions  of  the  Federal  force,  crossing  below 
and  above  the  ford,  attacked  both  flank  and  rear. 

While  the  fight  at  the  Creek  was  still  going  on  and  the 
enemy  was  trying  to  force  his  way  across,  Rosser,  leaving 
General  Payne  to  watch  the  enemy  on  his  front,  attacked 
Pennington's  flank  and  rear  with  Wickham's  brigade.  It 
was  commanded  by  Col.  William  Morgan,  who  put  his  reg 
iments  into  the  fight  with  so  much  promptness  and  decision, 
that  Pennington's  rear  column  was  soon  driven  in  towards 
the  main  body,  which  was  now  forcing  its  way  across  Cedar 
Creek,  and  pushing  the  Laurels  in  front  of  it.  As  some  of 
Morgan's  squadrons  swept  through  the  fields  and  woods 
towards  the  Back  Road,  they  fell  in  with  small  parties  of 
Federals  either  skulking  or  lost,  and  took  many  prisoners. 

Rosser  himself,  while  galloping  through  the  bushes,  came 
suddenly  upon  a  tall  Federal  major,  who  seemed  to  rise  up 
out  of  the  earth.  Hardly  had  the  Federal  given  up  his 


3i 8  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

arms,  when  a  shout  near  by  disclosed  the  fact,  that  six  or 
seven  bluecoats  were  coming  with  lifted  sabres  to  the  rescue 
of  the  prisoner.  They  were  already  unpleasantly  near  when 
up  rode  a  body  of  Morgan's  men,  until  then  concealed  by  a 
clump  of  trees,  and  captured  the  would-be  rescuers. 

Custer's  men,  pushed  by  Morgan's  brigade,  had  crossed 
Cedar  Creek,  and  from  the  high  ground  there  were  keeping 
off  the  Confederates. 

But  a  few  minutes  before,  the  Laurels  had  abandoned  the 
position,  owing  to  the  enemy's  having  crossed  below  the 
ford  and  gotten  in  their  rear.  Now  the  Federals  must  hold 
it,  to  protect  Pennington's  rear  while  he  was  pursuing  the 
Laurels. 

The  Fourth  Virginia,  under  Colonel  Owen,  attempted 
with  great  gallantry  to  carry  the  position.  From  the  high 
bank  on  the  other  side  the  Federals  delivered  a  galling  fire, 
but  the  Fourth  pushed  bravely  on.  Twice  at  the  ford  they 
hesitated  under  the  volleys  that  came  from  the  enemy 
securely  posted.  Once  more  with  loud  cheers  they  rushed 
forward.  The  ford  was  passed  and  they  galloped  up  the 
hill,  and  drove  the  Federals  in  wild  rout  before  them. 

Retreating  rapidly  up  the  Back  Road,  Custer's  beaten 
vanguard  rejoined  his  division.  It  was  now  nearly  dark, 
and  both  sides  were  exhausted.  Custer,  gathering  up  his 
command,  made  off  to  the  right,  and  by  a  mountain  road 
returned  to  Sheridan. 

This  fight  was  counted  by  the  Federals  among  Custer's 
victories,  because  he  drove  the  Laurels  back  upon  the  Back 
Road.  If  the  punishment  inflicted  by  Wickham's  brigade 
upon  Custer  be  considered,  honors  were  about  even.  The 
loss  of  the  Confederates  in  this  affair  was  trifling  in  num- 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  319 

bers,  but  in  the  death  of  Colonel  Marshall  there  was  a 
heavy  loss  not  to  be  expressed  in  mere  numerals.  He  was 
one  of  those  rare  men,  nature's  noblemen,  who,  on  account 
of  extreme  modesty,  seldom  shine  in  time  of  peace;  but 
when  forced  into  action  by  a  sense  of  duty,  as  in  time  of 
war,  attain  often  to  enviable  distinction.  In  him  there  was 
so  much  goodness  blended  with  aggressiveness  and  high 
ability,  that  he  could  have  shone  in  any  sphere  of  action. 
But  as  a  soldier  only  was  he  known  to  the  men  of  the  bri 
gade,  and  by  common  consent  he  was  recognized  as  the 
knight  without  fear  and  without  reproach.  Endowed  by 
nature  with  all  the  qualities  that  excite  the  love  and  com 
mand  the  admiration  of  our  race,  he  yet  added  to  these  the 
graces  of  meekness  and  Christian  charity.  Deeply  religious, 
he  exemplified  the  highest  type  of  the  Christian  soldier.  He 
suffered  without  murmering;  while  in  word  and  deed  he 
helped  others  to  bear  the  hardness  of  their  lot.  Whether 
in  camp  or  field  it  was  his  happiness  to  "go  about  doing 
good."  To  his  men,  though  firm,  he  was  tender  and  con 
siderate,  and  they  repaid  him  with  an  affection  that  had 
grown  with  the  lapse  of  time.  His  absorbing  desire  was  to 
follow  duty's  path,  and  even  if  he  wandered  from  that 
straight  and  narrow  way,  it  was  on  honor's  side,  so  full  of 
martial  spirit  was  his  generous  and  noble  nature. 

After  the  fight  at  Brent's  house  the  brigade  went  into 
camp  at  Fisher's  Hill,  and  on  the  2Oth  they  moved  to  Tim- 
berville. 

Early  had  again  fallen  back,  for  which  he  assigned  the 
following  reasons : 

"Discovering  that  the  enemy  continued  to  fortify  his  posi 
tion  and  showed  no  disposition  to  come  out  of  his  lines  with 


^20  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

his  infantry,  and  not  being  willing  to  attack  him  in  his 
entrenchments  after  the  reverses  I  had  met  with,  I  determined 
to  retire,  as  we  were  then  beyond  the  reach  of  supplies."2 

In  spite  of  Early's  many  disasters  Sheridan,  though 
greatly  outnumbering  him,  was  still  afraid  of  the  audacious 
Confederate  leader.  No  defeat  could  break  his  spirit,  and 
calamity  but  strengthened  his  resolution  to  maintain  with 
desperate  valor  the  unequal  struggle. 

About  the  2Oth  of  November,  Early's  force  was  much 
diminished  by  the  departure  of  Kershaw's  division  for  Lee's 
army,  and  Crosby's  brigade  of  cavalry  to  Breckenridge ; 
but  Sheridan  still  insisted  upon  keeping  the  Sixth  Corps  of 
Infantry  with  him.3  The  doughty  conqueror  of  the  Valley 
must,  forsooth,  still  have  the  odds  of  nearly  three  to  one  in 
his  favor,  before  daring  again  to  face  his  oft-beaten  oppo 
nent. 


2Early's  Memoirs,  page  116. 

3Pond's  "Shenandoah  Valley,"  page  247. 


LIEUT.-COL.  THOMAS   MARSHALL 


CHAPTER  XII 

November,  1864 

Difficulty  of  supplying  subsistence  for  Early's  army — Plenty  beyond 
the  mountains  westward — Rosser  starts  out  for  New  Creek  with 
the  Laurels  and  Payne's  brigade — New  Creek  a  Federal  strong 
hold — Rosser  joined  by  McNeil's  Partisan  Rangers — McNeil 
defeats  Federals  at  Parsons  Ford — Some  unexpected  happenings — 
A  council  of  war — Rosser  decides — The  surprise — A  successful 
ruse — Capture  of  New  Creek — Homeward  bound  with  captures, 
flocks,  and  herds — Brigade  camps  near  Timberville — Moves  to 
near  Swopes  Depot — Custer  with  large  cavalry  force  threatens 
Staunton — Rosser  and  Payne  make  night  attack  on  Custer's  camp — 
Back  to  old  camp  at  Swopes  Depot — Lack  of  forage — Companies 
detached  in  order  to  subsist — Beverly. 

j 
Small  as  Early's  army  was,  the  difficulty  of  supplying  it 

with  food  and  forage  was  a  serious  one,  so  complete  had 
been  the  devastation  made  by  the  Federals. 

Though  there  was  little  left  for  man  or  beast  in  the  Val 
ley  below  Staunton,  it  was  well  known  that  there  was  an 
abundance  beyond  the  North  Mountain,  especially  in  the 
fertile  valley  of  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac. 

On  the  26th  of  November  Rosser,  with  Early's  consent, 
set  out  for  this  land  of  milk  and  honey.  He  had  with  him 
his  own  and  Payne's  brigade  and  a  few  of  the  choice  spirits 
of  the  cavalry  and  artillery  left  behind,  among  whom  were 
Capt.  James  Thompson,  Maj.  Robert  Mason,  Lieut.  Charles 
Menegrode,  and  Maj.  James  Breathed. 

While  the  open  purpose  of  the  expedition  was  to  secure 
supplies,  Rosser  intended  to  try  the  capture  of  New  Creek. 
The  place  is  now  called  Keyser.  It  is  the  county-seat  of 


322  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Mineral  county,  West  Virginia,  and  is  romantically  situated 
at  the  foot  of  the  Alleghanies,  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  about  twenty-two  miles  west  of  Cumberland, 
Maryland. 

It  is  now  a  growing  town  of  2,000  inhabitants,  and  is 
remarkable  for  the  neatness  of  its  appearance,  the  number 
of  its  cosy  dwellings,  and  the  picturesque  beauty  of  its  land 
scape.  Forty  years  ago  the  scene  was  quite  different.  Then 
it  was  a  mere  railroad  station,  with  a  few  houses  in  the 
vicinity.  But  it  was  regarded  as  a  military  point  of  great 
importance  by  the  Federals.  Two  forts  on  commanding 
hills  overlooking  the  depot  were  erected,  one  of  them 
manned  with  heavy  ordnance.  A  garrison  varying  from 
800  to  1,500  men  held  the  place  and  guarded  immense 
stores  of  food,  forage,  and  ammunition  placed  there  for  the 
convenience  of  troops  stationed  in  the  counties  of  Hardy 
and  Hampshire.  With  mountains  on  three  sides,  and  its 
natural  strength  being  increased  by  military  art,  it  was  a 
most  formidable  stronghold  of  which  to  contemplate  the 
capture  with  cavalry. 

Its  large  garrison,  and  the  facility  with  which  reinforce 
ments  could  be  poured  into  it  from  Maryland,  demanded 
the  greatest  secrecy  in  any  movement  against  it.  If  warn 
ing  was  given,  its  frowning  castles  could  laugh  a  siege  to 
scorn,  and  with  their  guns  sweep  out  of  existence  all 
attacking  columns.  The  position  was  deemed  impregnable. 
A  much  greater  force  than  Rosser's  under  General  McCaus- 
land  had  previously  failed  to  take  it.  Fitz  Lee  not  long 
before  had  gotten  within  eight  miles  of  it,  and  turned  back 
discouraged  after  learning  the  character  of  its  defenses. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  323 

Rosser  had  been  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  try  his 
fortune  upon  it.  Some  time  before,  as  a  preparatory  step, 
he  had  sent  two  reliable  scouts,  John  T.  Pearce  and  James 
L.  Williams,  to  spy  out  the  land  and  bring  him  a  map  of 
the  fortifications.  Their  reports  encouraged  the  hope  that 
a  bold  dash  might  succeed ;  and  when  he  marched  across 
the  mountains,  his  plans  were  already  matured.  Notwith 
standing  its  strong  defenses  were  rather  formidable,  the 
place  was  thought  of  by  Rosser  as  an  object  of  attack — for 
he  had  planned  a  surprise. 

Moving  through  Brock's  Gap  the  column  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Moorefield  about  noon  on  the  27th.  Halting 
his  command  at  the  fork,  Rosser  with  a  small  force  went 
ahead  to  Moorefield.  Shortly  after  reaching  there,  he 
learned  that  a  body  of  Federals  with  one  piece  of  artillery 
was  at  Old  Fields.  With  about  seventy-five  men  taken 
from  Captain  McNeil's  command  of  partisan  rangers  and 
from  Company  F  of  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry,  he  moved 
in  the  direction  of  the  enemy  and  soon  encountered  him 
at  Parsons  Ford. 

Captain  McNeil  with  his  detachment  wras  sent  to  pass 
around  the  enemy's  flank  and  cut  off  his  retreat  through 
Reynolds'  Gap.  The  movement  was  soon  discovered  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Fleming,  the  Federal  commander,  and 
resisted.  Before  the  rest  of  Rosser's  men  had  gotten  up, 
McNeil  had  beaten  the  enemy,  capturing  his  piece  of  artil 
lery  and  twenty  men,  and  chasing  the  fugitives  through 
Reynolds'  Gap.  Fleming  had  under  him  in  the  fight, 
according  to  his  own  official  report,  120  men.  Those  who 
escaped  from  McNeil  rode  straight  for  New  Creek.  The 
affair  occurred  about  six  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  by  quarter  past 


324  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

nine  P.  M.  Colonel  Latham,  commanding  at  New  Creek, 
twenty-one  miles  distant,  had  learned  of  Fleming's  defeat. 
He  at  once  telegraphed  to  General  Kelly  at  Cumberland  the 
result  of  the  skirmish.  The  latter  replied,  "Put  your  post 
in  the  best  possible  position  for  defense,  as  it  is  probable 
that  the  Rebels  will  attack  you."  To  this  Colonel  Latham 
responded,  "I  am  prepared  for  them." 

To  explain  the  situation  it  is  necessary  to  state  that  an 
other  scouting  party  of  Federals,  under  Maj.  P.  J.  Potts, 
had  been  sent  from  New  Creek  on  the  26th  of  November. 
On  the  evening  of  the  27th,  the  same  day  of  Rosser's  arrival 
at  Moorefield,  it  camped  a  few  miles  north  of  the  town. 
The  next  morning  Major  Potts,  learning  of  the  near  pres 
ence  of  the  Confederates,  made  off  by  a  mountain  path,  and 
after  wandering  through  the  mountains,  reached  New 
Creek  the  day  after  its  fall.  It  does  not  appear  that  Rosser 
was  aware  of  the  existence  of  this  scouting  party,  but  the 
sequel  shows  that  its  absence  from  New  Creek  had  much  to 
do  with  his  successful  surprise  of  the  garrison. 

The  unlooked-for  meeting  with  Fleming's  detachment 
at  Old  Fields  was  discouraging.  It  was  highly  probable 
that  before  sunrise  the  enemy  at  New  Creek  would  be 
informed  of  Rosser's  arrival  at  Moorefield,  and  would  make 
preparations  to  receive  him.  Instead,  however,  of  chang 
ing  Rosser's  plans,  these  unexpected  events  only  made  him 
act  with  more  celerity.  He  determined  to  march  at  once 
against  the  enemy.  Possibly  he  might  reach  New  Creek 
before  the  fugitives;  at  any  rate  he  would  go  forward  and 
see  what  fortune  awaited  him. 

Moving  his  command  from  Moorefield  after  dark,  he 
proceeded  by  way  of  the  Alleghany  and  Moorefield  turnpike 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  325 

to  the  head  of  Patterson's  Creek.  There  he  followed  the 
road  leading  down  the  creek  to  the  northwestern  turnpike. 
When  within  a  mile  of  Burlington,  situated  at  the  junction 
of  the  road  upon  which  he  was  marching  and  the  north 
western  turnpike,  he  turned  to  the  left.  He  had  now7  to  fol 
low,  at  times,  little  more  than  a  bridle-path,  which  led  up 
Mike's  Run  to  a  point  on  the  northwestern  turnpike  five 
miles  west  of  Burlington  and  near  Harrison's  Gap  in  the 
Knobley  Mountain.  Thus  far  he  had  missed  all  scouting 
parties,  and  was  within  six  miles  of  New  Creek  station. 
Here  the  seriousness  of  Rosser's  design  was  apparent  to 
all.  The  men  had  been  marching  all  night  and  were 
exhausted.  The  sun  was  just  rising,  gilding  with  its  beams 
the  lofty  peaks  of  the  Alleghanies.  The  column  wras  still  in 
the  woods ;  in  sight  was  the  turnpike  along  which  at  any 
moment  a  Federal  scouting  party  might  pass. 

A  council  of  war  was  held.  The  question  was,  Had  not 
some  of  Colonel  Fleming's  fugitives  already  reached  New 
Creek  and  put  the  Federals  on  their  guard?  Such  was  the 
opinion  of  not  a  few,  and  Rosser  \vas  urged  to  go  back. 
Captain  Pearce,  the  scout,  reasoned  that,  without  doubt 
some  of  the  escaped  Federals  had  given  warning  of  Ros 
ser's  being  in  the  neighborhood,  but  that  information,  in 
his  opinion,  would  only  make  the  Federals  more  careless, 
for  they  would  think  Rosser  would  not  dare  to  approach 
the  fort,  knowing  as  he  must,  that  they  were  informed  of 
his  being  near  at  hand.  This  view  struck  Rosser  as  a  sen 
sible  one,  and  offering  as  it  did  a  fighting  chance  of  captur 
ing  a  famous  stronghold,  quickly  obtained  his  approval. 

Genl.  W.  H.  Payne,  the  second  in  command,  always  ready 
to  adopt  a  bold  line  of  action,  was  of  the  same  opinion.  The 


326  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

result  of  the  short  talk  was,  that  the  column  very  soon 
moved  forward  across  the  turnpike  towards  New  Creek, 
taking  a  near  cut  to  the  New  Creek  turnpike. 

General  Payne  with  his  brigade,  consisting  of  the  Fifth, 
Sixth,  and  Eighth  regiments  of  Virginia  cavalry,  took  the 
front,  the  Sixth  Regiment  being  in  the  lead.  The  Eleventh 
Regiment,  under  Maj.  E.  H.  McDonald,  was  sent  by 
another  road  leading  down  Limestone  Branch,  and  ap 
proaching  the  station  from  the  east.  Traveling  down  it 
Major  McDonald  was  to  strike  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  a  half  mile  east  of  the  station,  and  after  cutting 
the  telegraph  wire,  advance  and  unite  with  the  main  body 
in  the  attack  on  the  forts. 

The  main  body  had  gone  but  a  short  distance,  when  an 
accident  suggested  the  means  of  success.  From  a  conver 
sation  with  a  wayside  resident,  it  was  discovered  that  a 
body  of  Federal  horse  had  left  New  Creek  on  a  reconnois- 
sance,  and  that  their  return  was  hourly  expected.  It  was 
resolved  to  make  the  most  of  this  discovery.  In  order  to 
mask  his  approach  and  deceive  the  Federal  pickets,  General 
Payne  put  twenty  men  in  blue  overcoats  in  advance  under 
Captain  Fitzhugh.  They  were  instructed  to  go  at  a  walk 
and,  when  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  to  approach  them 
quietly  after  the  manner  of  friends.  These  orders  were 
executed  with  great  coolness  and  admirable  judgment  by 
Captain  Fitzhugh. 

In  a  short  time  the  New  Creek  turnpike  was  reached  at 
a  point  about  four  miles  from  the  station.  Thence  the  road 
led  along  the  bank  of  the  creek,  which  with  very  slight 
meanderings  washes  the  western  base  of  Abraham's  Ridge. 
The  road  was  almost  a  dead  level  and  nearly  straight.  On 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  327 

the  right,  the  woody  banks  of  the  stream  served  partly  to 
conceal  the  column;  but  it  was  the  blue  overcoats  of  the 
men  in  front,  and  the  shrewdness  of  Captain  Fitzhugh, 
that  served  most  to  disarm  and  assure  the  success  of  the 
movement. 

The  Union  people,  living  near  the  line  of  march,  came 
out  of  their  houses  to  watch  the  column  pass,  supposing 
from  the  uniform  of  the  advance  that  it  was  a  body  of 
Federal  soldiers,  and  when  the  appearance  of  the  main 
body  in  grey  revealed  the  truth,  it  was  too  late  for  any  of 
them  to  get  away  and  give  the  alarm.  Citizens,  riding  or 
driving  out,  and  even  a  small  scouting  party  of  Federal 
horsemen,  met  the  vanguard  in  the  road,  and  passing  it 
with  friendly  salutations,  rode  into  the  grey  column  behind 
and  were  "taken  care  of." 

The  same  gait  of  careless  assurance,  enabled  Captain 
Fitzhugh  to  ride  up  to  the  Federal  pickets  and  capture  them 
without  the  firing  of  a  gun  or  of  making  any  loud  demon 
stration.  When  within  a  half  mile  of  the  town,  it  was 
necessary  to  lay  aside  the  mask  and  make  a  dash  at  the 
enemy.  A  part  of  the  command,  with  the  Sixth  in  front, 
turned  out  of  the  turnpike  to  the  left,  and  galloped  up  the 
hill  upon  the  summit  of  which  was  the  fort.  Its  big  guns 
frowned  savagely  upon  the  grey  horsemen,  and  though  the 
gunners  were  away  in  the  town,  the  sentinels  standing  by 
them  being  plainly  seen  gave  the  impression  to  many  that 
the  cannon  were  about  to  be  fired.  A  minute's  delay  and  all 
would  have  been  lost.  Steadily  the  column  moved  on, 
Payne  and  Rosser  near  the  front.  When  close  to  the  para 
pet,  the  Federal  sentinels  presented  arms  in  token  of  sur 
render,  and  Payne,  taking  off  his  hat,  shouted,  "Three 


328  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

cheers  for  the  gallant  Sixth !"  This  was  given  with  a  will, 
for  already,  in  the  plain  below  to  the  right  of  the  garrison, 
the  enemy  was  seen  running  in  great  confusion  towards  the 
Potomac. 

When  Payne  with  his  column  turned  out  of  the  road  to 
assail  the  fort,  Rosser  ordered  another  part  of  his  command 
to  move  quickly  down  the  road  and  take  Church  Hill,  upon 
which  was  posted  Mulligan's  Battery  of  field  pieces.  For 
tunately,  a  projecting  bluff  concealed  them  from  observa 
tion  until  within  a  short  distance  of  the  station.  Rounding 
the  bluff,  the  Fifth  suddenly  appeared,  and  turning  to  the 
left  charged  up  Church  Hill,  upon  the  top  of  which  was  the 
Federal  battery.  Here  there  was  a  momentary  show  of  re 
sistance.  Some  of  the  gunners  had  made  out  to  load  one 
piece.  As  the  cavalry  approached  at  a  gallop  the  artillery 
men  fled,  but  a  Federal  lieutenant  bravely  seized  the  lan 
yard,  and  was  about  to  fire,  when  Maj.  James  Breathed,  of 
Stuart's  horse  artillery,  cut  him  down  with  his  sabre.  The 
whole  assault  had  been  so  sudden  and  unexpected  that  the 
garrison,  though  numbering  more  than  1,000  men  of  all 
arms,  made  no  effort  to  recover  from  the  panic  that  had 
seized  them,  but  fled  en  masse  towards  the  river.  Most  of 
the  fugitives  were  captured,  but  some  succeeded  in  crossing 
the  river,  and  from  the  other  side  opened  fire  upon  their 
pursuers. 

The  number  of  prisoners  taken  was  about  800,  and  about 
400  horses.  A  great  quantity  of  forage,  grain,  and  ordnance 
stores  was  burned.  The  guns  on  Fort  Hill  were  spiked, 
and  the  four  pieces  of  Mulligan's  battery  were  carried  off. 
The  victory  was  almost  a  bloodless  one. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  329 

Rosser,  not  content  with  his  rich  capture,  now  sent  Maj. 
E.  H.  McDonald  with  the  Eleventh  Regiment  to  Pied 
mont  to  destroy  the  machine  shops  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad  located  there. 

The  place  is  about  five  miles  west  of  New  Creek  station, 
and  at  that  time  was  guarded  by  a  small  force  of  infantry. 
The  road  leading  to  it  from  New  Creek  followed  the  course 
of  the  railroad,  and  near  the  edge  of  the  town  passed 
through  the  mountain  gorge  made  by  the  North  Branch  of 
the  Potomac. 

With  a  river  on  one  side  and  a  rocky  and  steep  mountain 
on  the  other,  the  pass  is  easy  to  defend  against  a  superior 
force  by  a  small  and  resolute  body.  The  news  of  the  taking 
of  New  Creek  had  already  reached  Piedmont,  and  when 
Major  McDonald  got  near  the  town,  he  found  Federal 
infantry  strongly  posted  in  the  gorge  and  ready  to  receive 
him. 

Dismounting  some  of  his  men  he  engaged  the  enemy,  and 
after  a  sharp  fight,  in  which  he  lost  two  men  killed 
and  several  wounded,  he  drove  the  enemy  from  cover,  and 
pursued  him  with  his  mounted  squadrons  through  the  town 
to  the  Maryland  side  of  the  river. 

Turning  his  attention  now  to  the  engines  and  shops,  he 
burnt  many  of  them,  though  his  men  were  exposed  to  a 
galling  fire  from  the  Federals  posted  on  the  neighboring 
hills  across  the  river. 

After  the  work  of  destruction  was  finished,  the  Eleventh 
withdrew  by  a  road  through  the  mountains.  They  camped 
on  the  Alleghanies  that  evening,  and  learned  in  the  morn 
ing  that  the  Federal  scouting  party  under  command  of 
Major  Potts  had  passed  near  them  during  the  night. 


330  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Rosser,  after  sending  on  in  advance  his  prisoners,  and 
many  of  the  captured  stores  in  wagons,  without  much  tar 
rying  turned  his  face  homeward.  Feeling  sure  that  an 
effort  would  be  made  to  intercept  him  on  his  return,  he 
sent  one  regiment  forward  to  hold  the  narrow  pass  between 
Petersburg  and  Moorefield,  and  went  back  by  way  of 
Petersburg,  and  not  by  Moorefield,  as  he  had  come.  The 
regiment  sent  on  to  seize  the  pass  between  Petersburg  and 
Moorefield,  got  there  before  the  pursuing  column  of  Fed 
erals,  and  Rosser  was  thus  enabled  to  move  on  with  his 
captures  at  a  more  leisurely  gait,  and  free  from  molesta 
tion.  His  foraging  parties  had  with  great  activity  taken 
advantage  of  the  march  upon  New  Creek  to  gather  up  cat 
tle  and  sheep,  and  Rosser  went  homeward  taking  with  him 
a  goodly  quantity  of  these,  to  the  relief  and  joy  of  Early 's 
army  in  the  Valley.  While  the  capture  of  New  Creek 
with  its  strong  garrison  was  a  ray  of  sunshine  mid  the  gen 
eral  gloom  caused  by  Early's  repeated  disasters,  yet  the 
tidings  of  victory  were  not  received  with  near  as  much 
pleasure  as  was  the  arrival  of  the  flocks  and  herds. 

Upon  their  return  the  Laurels  went  into  camp  near  Tim- 
berville,  and  for  a  few  days  enjoyed  a  rest  much  needed, 
with  the  exception  of  the  necessary  picket  duty. 

Very  soon  forage  was  not  to  be  had.  The  cattle  and  sheep 
brought  by  the  raiders  supplied  for  a  short  time  the  wants 
of  the  men,  but  grain  and  long  food  had  disappeared  almost 
as  completely  as  the  pastures  which  the  hard  frosts  had 
killed.  Some  of  the  horses  died  in  camp  from  the  effect  of 
starvation.1 


1Sherrard's  Diary. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  331 

On  the  1 6th  of  December  Early  broke  camp  at  New  Mar 
ket  and  moved  back  to  the  vicinity  of  Staunton,  so  as  to  be 
near  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad. 

Rosser's  brigade  moved  to  the  neighborhood  of  Swopes 
Depot,  seven  miles  west  of  Staunton,  some  of  the  compa 
nies  being  left  on  picket  in  front  of  New  Market.  There 
seemed  to  be  now  some  prospect  of  relief,  from  hard  serv 
ice  at  least,  though  little  from  the  miseries  of  want,  cold 
and  lack  of  warm  clothing.  The  winter  was  severe,  and  to 
survive  its  rigors  without  sufficient  clothing  and  food  was 
an  undertaking  of  some  magnitude.  Still  the  charms  of 
repose  were  sweetened  by  thoughts  of  the  recent  victory, 
and  the  situation  was  not  altogether  without  crumbs  of 
comfort. 

But  hope  and  fortitude  would  not  feed  and  clothe  the 
men,  nor  keep  alive  the  horses,  upon  which  the  usefulness 
of  cavalry  so  much  depends.  Day  by  day  the  brigade  was 
diminishing  in  numbers.  Many  went  home,  by  permission, 
after  fresh  horses;  many  took  'Trench  leave,"  not  as  de 
serters,  but  for  temporary  absence  without  furlough.  The 
remnant  consoled  themselves  with  the  expectation  of  a  short 
season  of  rest  from  their  labors.  It  was  soon  discovered 
that  Sheridan's  8,000  horsemen,  splendidly  equipped  and 
armed,  would  give  them  little  rest. 

On  the  1 9th  of  December  Custer's  division,  3,000  strong, 
advanced  from  Winchester  towards  Staunton.  Sheridan, 
spurred  on  by  Grant,  was  making  a  grand  raid  on  the  Vir 
ginia  Central  Railroad.  The  main  body,  consisting  of  Mer- 
ritt's  and  Powell's  divisions,  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge  at 
Chester's  Gap  and  marched  towards  Charlottesville.  Cus- 


332  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

ter's  part  of  the  movement  was  to  go  to  Staunton  and 
occupy  the  attention  of  Early. 

On  the  2Oth  Early,  learning  through  his  signal  corps  of 
the  Federal  advance,  with  his  usual  pluck  did  what  he  could 
with  the  means  at  his  command  to  foil  the  enemy. 

In  the  midst  of  a  hailstorm  he  moved  Wharton's  division 
towards  Harrisonburg,  and  Rosser  was  ordered  to  the 
front  with  all  the  cavalry  he  could  collect.  Taking  what 
could  be  mounted  of  his  own  and  Payne's  brigades,  Rosser 
pushed  forward  through  mud  and  rain  and  about  ten 
o'clock  P.  M.  went  into  camp  below  Harrisonburg. 

There  was  nothing  at  all  for  the  horses.  Even  the 
rations  of  straw  obtainable  at  Swopes  Depot  could  not  be 
gotten. 

After  a  halt  of  three  hours  the  bugle  called  to  saddle. 
Roused  up  at  one  o'clock  the  weary  troopers  mounted  their 
jaded,  half-starved  horses  and,  forming  column,  moved  out 
to  seek  the  enemy. 

Custer  had  gone  into  camp  near  Lacey's  Springs,  and  if  he 
remained  undisturbed  until  daylight,  his  large  and  well- 
mounted  division  seemed  likely  to  prove  more  than  a  match 
for  Rosser's  small  force.  There  was  nothing  to  do  but  to 
have  it  out  before  morning,  and  Rosser,  ever  anxious  to 
meet  Custer,  started  on  a  second  expedition  to  surprise  his 
camp. 

The  road,  muddy  from  recent  rains,  was  rendered  more 
so  by  additional  showers;  a  cold  wind  blew  and  the  rain 
froze  as  it  fell.  The  hats  and  clothes  of  the  troopers  soon 
•became  stiff  with  ice;  while  the  horses  were  enveloped  in 
frosty  garments;  the  small  icicles  hanging  from  their 
bodies  rattling  as  they  staggered  along.  The  road  soon 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  333 

became  icy  smooth,  and  the  horses  not  being  rough  shod, 
traveled  with  much  difficulty. 

Following  the  Middle  Road  the  column  struggled  on. 
At  Krotzer's  Spring  it  turned  to  the  right  towards  Lacey 
Spring.2 

When  near  Custer's  camp  Rosser  and  Payne  rode  for 
ward  to  reconnoiter.  They  speedily  came  in  view  of  the 
enemy's  campfires  which,  stretching  away  to  a  considerable 
distance,  showed  that  it  was  impossible  with  the  small  force 
of  Confederates  present  to  surprise  more  than  a  part  of  the 
Federal  force.  There  was,  however,  no  other  alternative 
but  to  try  the  chance  of  battle.  Upon  returning  to  the  col 
umn  they  found  the  troops  shivering  with  the  cold,  but 
ready  to  do  their  best.  "Plans  were  hastily  made,  and  with 
out  a  yell  or  the  sound  of  a  bugle  \ve  swept  down  upon  the 
half-sleeping  foe  like  an  avalanche."3 

The  camps  first  assailed  were  soon  alive  with  fugitive 
Federals,  but  the  report  of  the  small  arms  roused  the  more 
distant  sleepers,  who  hastily  mounted  and  formed  column. 

A  short  and  sharp  fight  now  occurred,  in  which  the 
enemy,  being  worsted,  slowly  withdrew  down  the  Valley. 
Rosser,  after  pursuing  a  short  distance,  turned  his  face 
homeward,  rightly  thinking  it  no  small  victory  to  have 
forced  into  retreat  a  body  of  Federal  horse  outnumbering 
his  own  nearly  five  to  one. 

Custer  had  started  to  go  to  Staunton,  but  had  failed  to 
get  within  forty  miles  of  it.  Upon  learning  of  Custer's 
discomfiture,  Early  moved  Wharton's  division  back  to 
Staunton.  On  the  23rd  of  December  a  portion  of  it  was 


2From  Joseph  Sherrard's  Diary. 
3 Account  by  General  Rosser. 


334  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

sent  by  rail  to  Charlottesville.  The  same  day  Rosser  was 
ordered  to  the  same  point.  An  all-night  march  through 
Rock  Fish  Gap  brought  him  in  its  vicinity.  Here  he 
learned  that  the  Federals  had  gone  back,  and  after  a  day's 
halt  the  column  moved  for  their  old  camp  at  Swopes  Depot, 
where  they  arrived  on  the  26th  of  December. 

Shortly  after  Christmas  winter  set  in  cold  and  stormy. 
The  great  activity,  necessitated  by  the  aggressiveness  of  an 
overwhelming,  mounted  Federal  force,  had  more  and  more 
thinned  the  ranks  of  the  cavalry. 

There  was  hardly  enough  of  forage  to  keep  the  horses 
from  starving,  while  the  men  were  in  miserable  quarters 
and  on  short  rations.  Many  whole  companies  were  per 
mitted  to  go  home  and  recruit. 

On  the  3rd  of  January  the  First  Squadron  of  the  Elev 
enth  Regiment  went  off  on  leave  to  McDowell,  the  Second 
Squadron  to  Lost  River.  White's  Battalion  had  already 
gone,  January  ist,  to  their  native  counties  east  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.  Similar  leaves  were  granted  to  many  of  the  Seventh 
and  Twelfth  regiments.  So  that,  by  the  middle  of  January, 
there  was  but  a  portion  of  the  brigade  left  at  Swopes  Depot, 
and  this  was  suffering  greatly  for  the  means  of  subsistence. 
Rosser,  who  was  still  in  command  of  Fitz  Lee's  division, 
began  to  cast  about  for  some  sort  of  relief.  The  country 
around  him  was  almost  famine-stricken.  The  people  had 
been  drained  of  their  substance  to  support  the  soldiery. 
The  Government  could  do  little.  It  was  straining  every 
nerve  to  maintain  Lee's  veterans  who,  in  spite  of  cold, 
hunger,  and  constant  assaults  of  Grant's  multitudes,  formed 
a  wall  of  defense  for  the  Confederate  Capital. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  335 

It  was  impossible  to  submit  quietly  to  an  environment 
that  threatened  to  disband  his  command.  As  no  help  was 
to  be  expected  from  others,  Rosser  must  strike  a  blow  for 
himself.  There  was  much  to  discourage  any  thought  of 
campaigning  in  such  a  winter.  His  men  were  few,  half- 
clothed  and  badly  mounted ;  besides  despondency  was  in  the 
air. 

It  was  plain,  indeed,  to  the  thoughtful  that  the  sun  of  the 
Confederacy  was  near  its  setting,  but  to  the  brave  hearts 
that  defied  fortune,  it  seemed  only  under  a  passing  cloud. 
At  the  opening  of  spring,  they  thought,  the  gloom  would 
vanish  and  victory  once  more  perch  upon  the  banner  of 
Lee. 

If  the  darkening  prospect  led  many  to  despond  and  to 
falter  in  devotion  to  the  cause  of  their  adoption,  in  the  more 
dauntless  spirits  it  only  awakened  heroic  constancy,  and 
spurred  them  on  to  more  daring  achievements. 

While  seeking  an  opportunity  to  damage  the  enemy  and 
help  himself,  Rosser  through  his  scouts  learned  that  at  Bev 
erly,  a  distant  point  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  was  stored  a 
large  quantity  of  army  supplies,  and  that  the  Federal  garri 
son  there  did  not  exceed  1,000  men.  Here  was  a  chance  to 
do  something  which  might  bring  relief  for  a  time,  and  for 
the  want  of  a  better  opportunity  Rosser  began  to  think  how 
he  might  capture  the  place. 

Beverly  is  distant  from  Staunton,  as  the  crow  flies,  about 
seventy-five  miles.  But  the  road  traverses  the  steep  ranges 
and  winds  through  the  gorges  of  the  Alleghanies.  For 
some  distance  it  led  through  what  was  then  a  war-swept 
region,  that  could  furnish  little  means  of  subsistence  to 
either  man  or  horse,  and  most  of  the  way  over  almost  im- 


336  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

passable  roads  and  across  fierce  mountain  streams.  It  was 
blocked  up,  too,  by  the  snows  which  for  weeks  had  been 
falling,  and  in  the  gorges  drifted  to  a  depth  of  twenty-five 
feet.  The  people  who  lived  along  or  near  the  road  were  as 
fierce  and  intractable  as  the  rugged  steeps  among  which  they 
dwelt,  and  were,  moreover,  bitterly  hostile  to  the  Con 
federacy. 

A  sober  estimate  of  the  difficulties  to  be  overcome  did  not 
furnish  much  reasonable  hope  for  success,  but  necessity 
could  not  listen  to  judgment,  and  despair  lent  courage  to 
hope. 

Having  gotten  the  consent  of  Genl.  Fitzhugh  Lee,  who  in 
Early's  absence  was  in  command  of  the  Valley  forces,  Ros- 
ser  took  steps  to  prepare  for  the  raid  on  Beverly.  As  the 
work  to  be  done  would  make  great  demands  upon  the  pluck 
and  fortitude  of  those  engaged  in  it,  he  deemed  it  wise  to 
enroll  for  the  expedition  none  but  volunteers.  A  call  for 
these  discovered  that  more  men  were  willing  to  go  than 
there  were  horses  fit  for  duty.  Some  wished  to  march 
afoot,  but  this  was  not  permitted. 

After  some  necessary  delay  a  force  of  300  men  was  gath 
ered  from  the  three  brigades  of  Payne,  Munford,  and  Ros- 
ser.  These  were  divided  into  two  detachments  of  150  men 
each,  commanded  respectively  by  Colonel  Cook  of  the 
Eighth  Virginia  Cavalry,  and  Colonel  Morgan  of  the  First 
Virginia  Cavalry,  of  whom  says  Rosser,  speaking  of  this 
diminutive  force,  "I  can  safely  say  that  a  more  intelligent, 
more  gallant,  and  more  reliable  300  than  composed  my  little 
army  of  invasion  was  never  assembled  in  one  command." 

With  the  small  force  thus  made  up,  a  sort  of  forlorn 
hope,  Rosser  started  for  Beverly.  The  march  was  without 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  337 

important  incidents  except  that,  being  in  midwinter,  and 
the  weather  exceptionally  cold,  the  suffering  of  the  troopers 
was  intense.  A  deep  snow  was  on  the  ground,  and  this  was 
drifted  in  the  mountain  passes,  in  some  places,  to  a  depth  of 
twenty-five  feet. 

While  the  direct  road  to  Beverly  was  probably  not  over 
seventy-five  miles,  the  route  followed  by  Rosser  was  much 
farther,  as  his  plan  was  to  attack  the  Federal  position  from 
the  north,  it  having  been  found  that  the  road  in  that  direc 
tion  was  not  so  well  guarded,  and  also  because  the  Federals 
would  be  cut  off  from  their  line  of  retreat.  Beverly  is  loca 
ted  in  Tygarts  Valley,  through  which  winds  the  Tygarts 
Valley  River,  and  the  mountain  streams  across  Rosser' s  line 
of  march  flow  into  that  river. 

The  night  of  the  loth  of  January  the  command  bivou 
acked  on  a  mountainside  in  Devil's  Hollow,  the  road  follow 
ing  the  meanderings  of  a  run  that  flowed  into  Tygarts  Val 
ley  River,  and  intersected  the  Philippi  turnpike  in  the  rear 
of  the  Federal  camp. 

The  attack  was  made  before  daylight  on  the  morning  of 
the  nth,  most  of  the  command  being  dismounted. 

A  thin  line  of  battle  was  formed  enveloping  the  encamp 
ment,  and  advanced  over  the  frozen  snow,  the  noise  of  the 
troopers'  feet  breaking  through  the  crust  being  the  first 
intimation  of  the  approach  of  a  hostile  force.  A  sentinel 
near  the  encampment  of  huts  and  tents  cried,  "Who  goes 
there?"  several  times.  The  only  response  to  his  challenge 
was  the  steady  tramp  of  the  advancing  line.  Thinking  that 
he  would  fire  and  alarm  the  camp,  a  charge  was  ordered  by 
the  whole  force.  The  mounted  squadron  dashed  through 
the  line  and  rode  boldly  up  to  the  tents,  demanding  the  sur- 


338  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

render  of  the  occupants.  Being  utterly  surprised  there  was 
not  much  resistance,  but  some  of  the  more  resolute  Federals 
fired  at  the  men  entering  the  doors  of  the  tents,  killing  one 
and  wounding  several  Confederates. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  place  was  in  the  hands  of  Rosser's 
force,  and  was  quickly  sacked  by  the  half-starved  Con 
federates. 

The  capture,  however,  did  not  turn  out  to  be  as  valuable 
as  General  Rosser  had  hoped.  The  troopers  indulged  in  the 
bountiful  supply  of  the  usual  food  and  luxuries  to  be  found 
in  a  Federal  garrison ;  among  them  an  abundance  of  liquor 
which,  as  may  be  supposed  after  the  severity  of  the  march, 
was  freely  indulged  in. 

The  captures,  according  to  the  report  of  General  Ros 
ser,  were  580  prisoners,  which  is  corroborated  by  the  Fed 
eral  report,  which  admits  572  men  and  eight  officers  taken 
prisoners,  six  men  killed  and  thirty-two  men  wounded ;  also 
100  horses,  about  600  arms  and  equipments,  and  10,000 
rations.1 

The  Federal  force  consisted  of  the  Eighth  Ohio  Cavalry 
and  the  Thirty-fourth  Ohio  Infantry,  about  1,000  in  all. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  the  incident  by  the  Federal 
general,  George  Crook,  commanding  that  department : 


1In  a  private  diary  preserved  by  Capt.  Jno.  S.  Blackburn,  ordnance 
officer  of  Payne's  brigade,  who  attended  the  expedition,  it  is  mentioned 
that  Colonel  Cook,  a  gallant  officer  commanding  the  Eighth  Virginia 
Cavalry,  lately  attached  to  Payne's  brigade,  was  left  at  Beverly,  badly 
wounded  in  a  leg,  which  was  amputated.  This  is  the  only  casualty  men 
tioned,  except  the  killing  of  private  Hite. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  339 

"HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  WEST  VIRGINIA, 

January  25th,  1865. 
Respectfully     forwarded     to    Headquarters    Middle    Military 

Division. 

Upon  hearing  of  the  surprise  and  capture  of  Beverly,  I  sent 
two  trusty  staff  officers  to  examine  into  and  report  upon  the 
affair.  Their  report  has  been  forwarded.  I  herewith  forward 
the  report  of  Colonel  Wilkinson,  and  recommend  that  Lieut. - 
Col.  R.  Yourt,  Eighth  Ohio  Cavalry,  and  Lieut. -Col.  L. 
Furney,  Thirty-fourth  Ohio  Volunteers,  be  dismissed  the 
service  for  disgraceful  neglect  of  their  commands,  and  for  per 
mitting  themselves  to  be  surprised  and  the  greater  portion  of 
their  commands  captured,  in  order  that  worthy  officers  may  fill 
their  places,  which  they  have  proved  themselves  incompetent 
to  hold. 

GEORGE  CROOK, 
Major-General  Commanding." 

The  return  of  the  expedition  to  Swopes  Depot,  which 
was  necessarily  slow  on  account  of  the  large  number  of 
prisoners  on  foot,  was  attended  with  great  suffering  both 
to  the  troopers  and  to  the  prisoners,  but  particularly  to  the 
latter,  who  were  taken  many  of  them  without  overcoats  and 
only  partly  clad.  The  frozen  feet  and  hands  of  quite  a 
number  necessitated  amputation. 

Genl.  Robert  E.  Lee  reports  to  the  Secretary  of  War  as 
follows : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  January  I5th,  1865. 

General  Early  reports  that  Rosser,  at  the  head  of  300  men, 
surprised  and  captured  the  garrison  at  Beverly,  Randolph 
county,  on  the  nth  instant,  killing  and  wounding  a  consider 
able  number  and  taking  580  prisoners.  His  loss  light. 

R.  E.  LEE. 
To  Hon.  J.  A.  Seddon." 


340  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  irony  of  fate  is  strikingly  illustrated  in  an  incident 
connected  with  the  affair  at  Beverly. 

Fontaine  Hite,  a  private  of  Company  D,  known  as  the 
Clarke  Company,  of  the  Sixth  Virginia  Cavalry,  being 
without  a  horse,  followed  the  expedition  all  the  way  on 
foot,  with  the  hope  of  capturing  a  mount  for  himself  from 
the  Federals  at  Beverly.  He  was  killed  while  entering  the 
door  of  a  tent,  the  only  Confederate  reported  to  have  been 
killed  in  the  attack. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

February,  1865 

The  capture  of  the  Federal  Major-Generals  Crook  and  Kelly,  in  the 
City  of  Cumberland  by  McNeil — The  capture  proposed  and  planned 
by  John  B.  Fay,  formerly  of  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry, 
but  at  the  time  a  member  of  McNeil's  partisan  company — Fay  with 
Ritchie  Hallar  reconnoiters  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cumberland — 
They  locate  the  sleeping  apartments  of  each  of  the  generals,  and 
the  outpost  and  reserve  pickets — The  hazards  of  the  undertaking 
— The  surprise  and  capture — Two  future  Presidents  of  the  United 
States  narrowly  escape — A  future  judge  not  so  fortunate — Federals 
pursue  but  give  it  up — Prisoners  transported  to  Dixie. 

While  this  chapter  is  something  of  a  digression,  it  con 
tains  an  interesting  item  of  history  which,  though  it  cannot 
properly  be  claimed  as  belonging  exclusively  to  the  Laurel 
Brigade,  can  be  claimed  in  large  part  by  members  of  the 
brigade  who  participated  in  it,  and  contributed  in  a  con 
spicuous  way  to  its  success ;  and  the  chronological  order  of 
the  history  is  best  preserved  by  introducing  it  here. 

The  capture  of  two  distinguished  Federal  generals- 
Crook  and  Kelly — from  their  quarters  in  the  center  of  a  city 
of  8,000  inhabitants,  guarded  with  an  army  of  6,000  to  8,000 
men,  by  a  handful  of  Confederate  cavalry,  was  an  event 
that  excited  the  North  with  astonishment  at  its  audacity,  and 
the  South  with  admiration  for  its  boldness  and  exultation 
over  its  success. 

The  account  is  given  in  the  words  of  John  B.  Fay,  who 
planned  the  enterprise  and  assisted  in  the  execution  of  it. 
Fay  was  a  private  in  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cav- 


342  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

airy,  Laurel  Brigade,  from  August  2ist,  1861,  until  1863, 
when  he  entered  the  partisan  command  of  McNeil. 

The  account  was  written  by  him  not  long  after  the  war, 
when  his  memory  was  fresh  as  to  the  details.  Mr.  Fay's 
account  is  corroborated  by  the  Federal  reports  as  far  as  they 
relate  to  it,  and  the  accuracy  of  it  is  fully  attested  by  his 
comrades  in  the  enterprise. 

Says  Mr.  Fay: 

"Towards  the  close  of  the  war,  about  an  hour  before  day 
break  on  the  cold,  frosty  morning  of  February  2ist,  1865,  a 
troop  of  Confederate  cavalry,  sixty-five  in  number,  under 
Lieut.  Jesse  C.  McNeil,  having  forded  the  Potomac  and  sur 
prised  and  captured  the  pickets,  quietly  rode  into  the  heart  of 
the  City  of  Cumberland,  Maryland,  then  the  headquarters  of 
the  military  district  of  West  Virginia,  captured  Major-Gen 
erals  George  Crook  and  B.  F.  Kelly,  together  with  the  latter's 
adjutant-general,  Thayer  Melvin;  and  without  the  loss  of  a 
man  carried  their  distinguished  prisoners  back  with  them  into 
the  Confederate  lines. 

"Being  a  somewhat  prominent  actor  in  this  affair,  and  to 
some  extent  responsible  for  its  inception  and  success,  and  for 
the  special  purpose  of  subserving  the  truth  of  history,  already 
violated  by  several  erroneous  accounts,  I  have  undertaken  in 
this  article  to  narrate  as  fully  and  concisely  as  my  memory  will 
permit,  the  main  incidents  of  the  expedition. 

"To  enable  the  reader  to  properly  understand  the  condition 
of  affairs  at  the  time,  a  slight  retrospect  at  the  outset  will  be 
necessary. 

"The  debatable  ground  which  lay  between  the  opposing 
armies  in  northern  Virginia,  both  east  and  west  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  covered  an  extensive  territory  running  parallel  with  the 
Potomac,  and  embraced  sometimes  the  breadth  of  two  or  more 
counties  southward. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  343 

"During  the  latter  part  of  the  war  this  region  was  dominated 
by  three  famous  partisan  leaders,  Mosby,  Gilmor,  and  McNeil. 
Their  forces  sometimes  intermingled,  but  the  operations  of 
Mosby  were  ordinarily  confined  to  the  country  east  of  the 
Shenandoah,  those  of  Gilmor  to  the  Valley  of  Virginia ;  while 
McNeil's  special  field  of  action  lay  to  the  westward  along  the 
upper  Potomac  and  the  courses  of  the  South  Branch. 

"McNeil's  command  was  composed  principally  of  volun 
teers  from  Virginia  and  Maryland,  though  nearly  every  South 
ern  State,  and  not  a  few  Northern  States,  had  representatives 
in  its  ranks.  Aristocrats  of  the  bluest  blood  and  their  rough, 
unpedigreed  comrades,  lawyers,  preachers,  doctors,  clerks, 
mechanics,  sturdy  farmer  lads,  college  graduates,  and  hardy 
mountaineers,  mingled  in  harmony. 

"Moorefield,  in  the  rich  valley  of  the  South  Branch,  was  the 
principal  headquarters  of  this  command,  and  Harrisonburg, 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  its  reserved  base  of  operations.  In 
a  daybreak  attack  on  a  camp  of  Pennsylvania  cavalry  at  Mt. 
Jackson  bridge  on  the  Shenandoah,  in  the  fall  of  1864,  Cap 
tain  McNeil  received  a  dangerous  wound  and  died  shortly 
afterwards.  His  son,  Jesse  C.  McNeil,  an  officer  of  great 
courage  and  gallantry,  though  somewhat  excitable  and  lacking 
the  discretion  of  his  father,  was  next  in  command.  Some  time 
in  February,  1865,  Lieutenant  McNeil  sent  for  me  and,  after 
alluding  to  a  suggestion  I  had  made  his  father  a  year  before, 
to  capture  General  Kelly  in  Cumberland,  informed  me  that 
Generals  Kelly  and  Crook  were  then  in  that  city,  and  if  I 
thought  it  practicable  and  could  obtain  the  necessary  informa 
tion,  he  would  make  the  attempt  to  secure  them  both  as 
prisoners  of  war.  As  my  home  was  in  Cumberland,  I  was  per 
fectly  familiar  with  the  place  and  its  surroundings,  and  had 
found  no  difficulty  in  getting  into  it  on  several  previous  occa 
sions,  once  remaining  a  week.  I  entered  zealously  into  his. 
project  and  gave  him  every  assurance  of  success  in  case  it  was 
properly  managed.  I  was  then  deputed  to  take  someone,  in 
whom  I  reposed  sufficient  confidence,  and  to  go  at  once  to 


344  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Cumberland  or  its  vicinity  and  procure  certain  information 
deemed  vital  to  insure  complete  success.  Selecting  as  my  com 
rade  Ritchie  Hallar,  a  lad  from  Missouri,  not  yet  out  of  his 
teens,  we  started  at  once  upon  our  mission.  The  understand 
ing  was,  that  McNeil  should  have  twenty-five  well-mounted 
men  prepared  to  follow  us  within  a  day  or  two,  making  their 
way  leisurely  down  the  South  Branch ;  while,  in  the  meantime, 
I  was  to  secure  accurate  information  as  to  the  situation  at 
Cumberland,  and  the  exact  location  of  the  sleeping  apartments 
of  Generals  Crook  and  Kelly. 

"Cumberland,  which  had  then  a  population  of  8,000,  is  sit 
uated  on  the  north  bank  of  the  upper  Potomac,  at  the  con 
fluence  of  that  river  and  Wills  Creek,  and  on  the  site  of  old 
Fort  Cumberland.  At  the  time  of  which  I  write,  six  or  eight 
thousand  troops  were  quartered  in  and  around  the  city,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Brigadier-Generals  Hayes,  Light- 
burn,  and  Duval;  the  former  since  President  of  the  United 
States. 

"Sheridan's  army  lay  at  Winchester,  and  a  considerable  force 
of  Federal  troops  were  strongly  entrenched  at  New  Creek,  now 
Keyser.  The  first-named  point  is  southeast,  and  the  second 
southwest,  of  Cumberland.  These  facts  show  the  hazard  of 
a  trip  to  Cumberland,  and  the  liability  of  being  cut  off,  to 
which  any  force  of  Confederates  would  be  exposed  if  discov 
ered  in  that  vicinity. 

"Hallar  and  I  proceeded  with  all  due  despatch,  and  a  few 
nights  after  our  departure  found  us  about  five  miles  west  of 
Cumberland,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Potomac. 

"After  reconnoitering  the  ford  we  crossed  and  sought  the 
humble  home  of  a  Celtic  friend,  which  was  close  at  hand.  I 
had  implicit  faith  in  this  man,  and  engaged  him  to  procure 
what  information  we  needed.  We  then  recrossed  the  river, 
and  by  daylight  were  twenty  miles  away,  taking  breakfast  near 
Romney.  Selecting  that  point  as  a  rendezvous,  I  sent  Hallar 
to  intercept  McNeil  and  bring  him  there  that  evening.  He 
arrived  in  time,  and  in  addition  to  those  of  his  own  command 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  345 

had  a  number  of  men,  probably  a  dozen,  belonging  to  Com 
pany  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry,  and  Company  D,  Eleventh 
Virginia  Cavalry,  of  Rosser's  brigade.  The  men  and  horses 
were  fed  and  rested,  and  the  shades  of  evening  saw  us  on  our 
eventful  journey. 

"Our  route  lay  over  Middle  Ridge  and  across  the  valley  of 
Patterson's  Creek,  through  the  ridges  beyond  to  the  base  of 
Knobley  Mountain,  where,  taking  a  northeasterly  course  we 
came  to  a  narrow  gap,  seldom  used,  leading  up  to  open  fields 
on  the  mountain-top.  Over  a  road  encrusted  with  ice  we 
passed  up  this  gap,  and  found  the  fields  covered  with  snow 
drifts  of  uncertain  depths,  causing  us  to  dismount  and  lead  our 
struggling  horses. 

"Having  reached  the  road  passing  through  a  lower  gap  to 
the  Seymour  Farm,  we  descended  the  mountain  into  the 
Potomac  Valley,  made  our  way  to  the  river,  and  this,  our 
rubicori,  being  crossed,  we  found  our  faithful  friend  on  hand 
with  all  needed  information.  At  this  juncture  Lieutenant 
McNeil  led  the  men  into  the  middle  of  a  neighboring  field,  and 
calling  together  a  number  of  us,  proceeded  to  the  residence  of 
S.  S.  Brady,  where  we  held  a  little  council  of  war.  After 
stating  that  there  was  not  sufficient  time,  before  daylight,  to 
enable  us  to  reach  Cumberland  and  carry  out  our  designs  there 
by  pursuing  the  route  laid  down  by  me,  McNeil  proposed  that 
that  part  of  our  expedition  should  be  abandoned ;  but  to  pre 
vent  the  trip  from  being  an  entire  failure,  he  suggested  that 
we  surprise  and  capture  the  large  picket  at  Brady's  Mill  near 
by.  This  proposition  met  with  emphatic  and  almost  unani 
mous  dissent.  The  prizes  for  which  we  had  traveled  so  far 
were  estimated  by  quality  and  not  by  quantity,  and  we  consid 
ered  a  company  of  infantry  but  poor  compensation  for  the 
chance  of  capturing  two  major-generals.  The  attempt  to  pass 
quietly  through  two  lines  of  pickets  promised  but  doubtful 
results,  but  that  being  the  only  satisfactory  alternative  we 
determined  to  proceed. 


346  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

"Lieutenant  McNeil  and  Sergeant  Vandiver,  followed  by 
Sergeant  Kuykendall  and  myself,  rode  ahead  as  an  advance 
guard.  The  rest  of  the  troops,  under  Lieut.  S.  S.  Welton, 
keeping  close  behind. 

"A  layer  of  thin,  crusty  snow  was  on  the  ground,  and 
although  it  was  about  an  hour  and  a  half  before  dawn,  we 
could  see  very  well  for  a  short  distance.  The  New  Creek  or 
Cresaptown  Road  skirts  the  base  of  Wills  Mountain,  the  rail 
road  and  river  being  on  the  right,  and  all  three  come  close 
together  at  the  mouth  of  a  deep  glen,  about  two  miles  from 
Cumberland,  where  the  road  deflects  to  the  left,  and  winds  up 
through  the  glen  and  over  the  hills  to  the  city;  the  railroad 
reaching  the  same  point  along  the  river  bottom.  A  mounted 
picket  was  stationed  at  the  mouth  of  the  glen,  and  as  we 
reached  this  point,  a  solitary  vidette  was  observed  standing  on 
the  roadside.  Upon  noticing  our  approach  he  gave  the  formal 
challenge,  'Halt !  Who  comes  there  ?'  We  responded,  'Friends 
from  New  Creek.'  He  then  said,  'Dismount  one,  advance  and 
give  the  countersign/  When,  without  a  moment's  warning, 
Lieutenant  McNeil,  putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  dashed  towards 
the  vidette,  and  as  he  passed,  unable  to  check  his  horse,  fired 
his  pistol  at  the  man's  head.  We  had  nothing  to  do  now  but 
to  follow  rapidly  and  secure  the  picket,  whom  we  found  terribly 
alarmed  at  the  peculiar  conduct  of  his  pretended  friends.  Two 
of  his  comrades,  acting  as  a  reserve,  had  been  making  them 
selves  as  cosy  as  possible  before  a  few  smouldering  embers  in 
a  fence  corner,  about  100  yards  in  the  rear,  but  hearing  the 
commotion  in  front  they  hastily  decamped,  making  towards 
the  river.  They  got  no  farther  than  the  railroad,  for  we  were 
soon  close  upon  them,  and  in  response  to  our  repeated  threats 
of  shooting,  both  halted  and  gave  themselves  up.  They 
belonged  to  Company  D,  Third  Ohio,  and  from  one  of  the 
pickets,  a  German,  the  countersign  for  the  night,  'Bulls  Gap/ 
was  extorted  under  menace  of  instant  annihilation  at  the  end 
of  a  halter.  Mounting  them  upon  their  horses,  which  were 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  347 

found  hitched  to  the  saplings  just  off  the  roadside,  we  took 
these  men  into  Cumberland. 

"Naturally,  our  troops  had  been  greatly  provoked  at  the 
independent  action  of  Lieutenant  McNeil  in  firing,  as  he  did, 
a  shot  which  might  have  caused  a  general  alarm  and  forced  us 
to  abandon  our  project.  Sharing  in  this  feeling,  I  insisted  that 
Sergeant  Kuykendall  and  myself  should  take  the  advance  in 
the  approach  to  the  next  and  inner  post.  This  was  assented 
to,  and  we  moved  on  determined  that  no  more  firing  should  be 
done  on  our  part  unless  absolutely  necessary. 

"The  inner  post  was  fully  a  mile  away,  over  the  high  inter 
vening  hill,  and  located  at  the  intersection  of  the  road  we  were 
on  with  the  old  Frostburg  turnpike.  The  picket  consisted  of 
five  men  belonging  to  the  First  West  Virginia  Infantry,  who 
were  comfortably  seated  in  a  shedlike  structure,  a  blazing  fire 
in  front,  and  busily  engaged  in  a  friendly  game  of  cards.  As 
we  drew  near  the  circle  of  light  one  of  the  number  was 
observed  to  get  up,  reach  for  a  musket,  and  leisurely  advance 
in  front  of  the  fire  to  meet  us.  To  his  formal  challenge,  Kuy 
kendall  answered,  'Friends  with  the  countersign.'  We  kept 
moving  up  in  the  meantime,  and  when  the  demand  was  made  for 
one  of  us  to  dismount,  noticing  an  impatient  movement  among 
our  men  behind  us,  in  order  to  deceive  the  picket  and  enable  us 
to  get  as  near  as  possible  before  our  intended  dash  was  made, 
I  shouted  back  in  a  loud  voice,  'Don't  crowd  up,  boys.  Wait 
until  we  give  the  countersign.'  We  did  not  find  it  necessary  to 
give  it,  however,  as  there  was  an  open  space  around  the  picket, 
allowing  them  no  chance  to  escape,  and  we  were  close  upon 
them.  In  another  instant  a  swift,  forward  dash  was  made  and, 
without  a  single  shot,  they  were  surrounded  and  captured.  The 
guns  and  ammunition  of  these  men  were  destroyed,  and  they 
were  left  unguarded  at  their  posts  with  strict  injunctions  to 
remain  there  until  our  return.  On  its  face,  this  would  appear 
to  have  been  a  very  unwise  thing,  but  it  was  the  best  we  could 
do.  We  had  no  intention  of  returning  that  way,  and  we  rightly 
trusted,  that  before  the  men  could  realize  the  situation  and 


348  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

get  where  an  alarm  could  be  given,  our  work  in  the  city  would 
have  been  accomplished. 

"We  were  now  inside  the  picket-lines,  and  before  us  lay  the 
sleeping  city.  We  halted  for  a  few  minutes  whilst  Lieutenant 
McNeil  hastily  detailed  two  squads  of  ten  men  each,  who  were 
charged  with  the  direct  capture  of  the  generals.  Sergt.  Joseph 
W.  Kuykendall  of  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry,  Lau 
rel  Brigade,  a  special  scout  for  General  Early,  a  man  of  great 
courage  and  coolness,  who  had  once  been  a  prisoner  in  Kelly's 
hands,  and  had  a  personal  acquaintance  with  him,  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  men  detailed  to  secure  that  general.  To  Ser 
geant  Vanaiver,  a  man  of  imposing  figure,  a  brave  and  gallant 
soldier,  was  given  charge  of  the  capture  of  General  Crook. 

"An  interesting  fact  in  connection  with  this  latter  squad 
is  that  among  the  number  were  Jacob  Gassman,  of  the  Laurel 
Brigade,  a  former  clerk  of  the  hotel  where  General  Crook  had 
his  headquarters,  and  whose  uncle  then  owned  the  building,  and 
Sergeant  Charles  James  Dailey,  whose  father  was  landlord  at 
the  time,  and  whose  sister  Mary  is  now  Mrs.  General  Crook, 
and  was  probably  then  his  fiancee. 

"The  duty  of  destroying  the  telegraphic  communication  was 
placed  upon  me,  and  Hallar  was  detailed  as  my  assistant. 
These  preliminaries  being  arranged,  we  moved  briskly  down 
the  turnpike  into  Green  Street  around  the  Court  House  Hill, 
over  the  Chain  Bridge  across  Wills  Creek,  and  up  Baltimore 
Street,  the  principal  thoroughfare  of  the  city,  the  men 
whistling  such  Yankee  tunes  as  they  knew,  and  occasionally 
bandying  words  with  isolated  guards  and  patrols  whom  we 
passed.  Some  of  our  men  were  disguised  in  Federal  overcoats, 
but  in  the  dim  light  no  difference  could  be  noted  in  the  shades 
of  blue  and  grey. 

"Part  of  the  command  was  halted  in  front  of  the  St. 
Nicholas  Hotel  and  Barnum  House,  now  the  Windsor  Hotel. 
In  the  latter  General  Kelly  slept.  The  rest  of  the  command 
rode  on  to  the  Revere  House,  now  the  Lindell,  where  General 
Crook  reposed  in  fancied  security.  Sentries  paced  up  and  down 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  349 

the  pavement  in  front  of  the  respective  headquarters,  but  took 
little  notice  of  our  movements,  evidently  taking  us  for  a  scout 
ing  party  coming  in  to  report.  Sprigg  Lynn,  of  Kuykendall's 
squad,  was  about  the  first  to  reach  the  pavement,  where  he  cap 
tured  and  disarmed  the  guard,  who  directed  the  party  to  the 
sleeping  apartments  of  General  Kelly.  Entering  the  hotel, 
the  hall  of  which  and  rooms  occupied  by  the  officers,  they 
found  lighted,  the  party  first  invaded  a  room  on  the  second 
floor.  This  proved  to  be  that  of  Adjutant  Melvin,  afterwards 
Judge  Melvin.  They  soon  aroused  this  officer,  required  him  to 
dress  and  indicate  to  them  the  room  occupied  by  his  chief. 
Being  informed  they  immediately  entered  the  General's  room, 
awakened  him,  told  him  he  was  a  prisoner,  and  desired  him 
to  make  as  hasty  a  toilet  as  possible.  With  some  nervousness 
the  old  general  complied,  inquiring  as  he  did  so  to  whom  he 
was  surrendering.  'To  Captain  McNeil,  by  order  of  General 
Rosser,'  Kuykendall  replied.  He  had  little  more  to  say  after 
this,  and  in  a  very  short  space  of  time  he  and  Melvin  were 
taken  down  to  the  street  and  mounted  upon  horses,  the  owners 
of  which  gave  them  the  saddle  and  rode  behind. 

"While  these  things  were  being  done,  an  almost  identical 
scene  was  being  enacted  at  the  Revere  House.  The  guard  there 
being  taken  and  disarmed,  the  capturing  party  ascended  the 
stone  steps  of  the  hotel  and  found  the  outside  door  locked. 
After  knocking  awhile  the  door  was  opened  by  a  small  colored 
boy  and  the  party  entered.  The  boy  was  terribly  alarmed  at 
the  brusque  manner  of  the  unexpected  guests,  whom  he  evi 
dently  suspected  of  improper  intentions.  When  asked  if  Gen 
eral  Crook  was  in  the  hotel  he  said,  'Yes,  sah ;  but  don't  tell  him 
I  tolj  you !'  And  he  afterwards  made  the  inquiry,  'What  kind 
o'  men  is  you-all,  ennyhow  ?' 

"While  Vandiver  and  Dailey  were  getting  a  light  in  the 
office  below,  Gassman  went  up  to  No.  46,  General  Crook's 
apartment,  and  thinking  the  door  was  locked,  knocked  at  it 
several  times.  A  voice  within  ased,  'Who  is  there  ?'  Gassman 
replied,  'A  friend,'  and  was  then  told  to  'Come  in.' 


350  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

"Vandiver  and  Dailey  had  arrived  by  this  time,  and  all  three 
entered  the  room.  Approaching  the  bed  where  the  General 
was  lying,  Vandiver  said  in  an  authoritative  tone,  'General 
Crook,  you  are  my  prisoner.'  'What  authority  have  you  for 
this?'  inquired  Crook.  'The  authority  of  General  Rosser,  of 
Fitzhugh  Lee's  division  of  cavalry/  said  Vandiver  in  reply. 
Crook  then  raised  up  in  bed  and  said,  'Is  General  Rosser  here?' 
'Yes,'  said  Vandiver,  'I  am  General  Rosser.  I  have  2,500  men 
with  me,  and  we  have  surprised  and  captured  the  place.'  That 
settled  the  matter  as  far  as  the  bonafide  general  was  concerned. 
He  was  intensely  surprised  at  the  bold  announcement,  but 
knowing  nothing  to  the  contrary,  accepted  Vandiver's  state 
ment  as  the  truth,  and  submitted  to  his  fate  with  as  much 
grace  and  apparent  cheerfulness  as  possible.  Speaking  to  me 
afterwards  of  his  sensations  at  the  time,  General  Crook 
remarked,  'Vandiver  was  such  a  looking  person  as  I  supposed 
General  Rosser  to  be,  and  I  had  no  reason  to  doubt  the  truth 
of  what  he  said.  I  was  very  much  relieved,  however,  when  I 
found  out  the  real  situation,  and  that  the  city  and  garrison  had 
not  been  captured.  In  a  few  hours  more  I  would  have  been  on 
the  train  going  to  join  Sheridan  at  Winchester,  and  I  would 
have  preferred  being  captured  en  route,  and  not  taken  out  of 
bed  as  I  was.  But  it  is  one  of  the  fortunes  of  war.  I  expect 
to  meet  some  of  my  old  schoolmates  of  West  Point  in  the 
Southern  army,  and  I  know  I  will  be  treated  well.' 

"General  Kelly  and  his  adjutant  were  secured  some  time 
before  Crook  was  brought  out  and  mounted,  but  when  this  was 
finally  done,  and  the  headquarters  and  other  flags  were  secured, 
in  a  quiet  and  orderly  manner  the  entire  party  moved  back 
down  Baltimore  Street  to  the  Chain  Bridge.  A  large  stable 
was  located  here,  and  under  the  leadership  of  Dave  Barnum 
this  was  entered,  and  a  number  of  fine  horses  taken,  among 
them  'Philippi,'  General  Kelly's  charger.  The  taking  of  these 
horses  occasioned  some  delay,  and  Lieutenant  McNeil,  becom 
ing  impatient,  directed  me  to  lead  them  out  of  the  city  at  once. 
Turning  the  column  to  the  left  down  Canal  Street  I  led  it  on 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  351 

to  the  bank  which  separates  the  creek  and  river  from  the 
Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal,  which  has  here  its  western 
terminus.  At  the  locks,  a  few  hundred  yards  below,  we  came 
unexpectedly  upon  a  dozen  or  more  guards,  whom  we  sur 
rounded  and  captured.  We  destroyed  their  guns  and  equip 
ments,  but  did  not  encumber  ourselves  with  their  persons. 

''From  this  point  the  column  went  at  a  gallop  down  the  tow- 
path,  and  as  its  front  neared  the  Canal  bridge  on  the  road  to 
Wiley's  Ford,  a  mile  below  town,  the  men  were  halted  by  the 
picket  posted  there.  The  column  not  halting  as  ordered,  one 
of  the  pickets  was  heard  to  say,  'Sergeant,  shall  I  fire?'  when 
Vandiver  shouted,  'If  you  do  I  will  place  you  under  arrest. 
This  is  General  Crook's  bodyguard,  and  we  have  no  time  to 
wait.  The  Rebels  are  coming  and  we  are  going  out  to  meet 
them.'  This  explanation  seemed  satisfactory,  for  not  another 
word  was  said.  We  passed  under  the  bridge  beyond  the 
picketpost,  the  enemy's  outpost  guard,  and  across  the  Potomac 
once  more. 

'McGregor  was  on  his  native  heath,  with  McGregor's  Clan  around  him/ 

"We  were  four  or  five  miles  away  before  we  heard  the  boom 
of  a  cannon  giving  the  alarm.  But  what  cared  we?  Although 
sixty  miles  from  base  and  not  yet  out  of  danger,  not  a  man 
among  us  but  felt  at  his  ease.  No  wonder  we  felt  proud  and 
happy  as  we  rode  back  that  cold  winter  morning  over  the  snow- 
clad  Virginia  hills.  Our  expedition  was  a  grand  success,  our 
every  wish  was  realized. 

"A  mounted  force  from  Cumberland  in  pursuit  of  us  came 
within  view  on  Patterson's  Creek,  but  kept  at  a  respectful  dis 
tance  in  the  rear.  After  passing  Romney  a  few  cavalry 
pressed  our  rear  guard,  but  after  the  exchange  of  a  few  shots 
retired. 

"On  reaching  the  Moorefield  Valley  we  came  in  sight  of  a 
battalion  of  the  Ringgold  Cavalry,  then  a  part  of  the  Twenty- 
second  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  sent  from  New  Creek  to  inter 
cept  us.  We  were  on  opposite  sides  of  the  river  in  full  view 


352  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

of  each  other,  and  soon  our  tired  horses  were  being  urged  to 
their  utmost  speed.  The  Federals  were  endeavoring  to  reach 
Moorefield  ahead  and  cut  off  our  retreat ;  while  on  our  side  the 
great  desire  was  to  pass  through  the  town  with  our  prisoners 
and  captured  flags,  and  exhibit  to  our  friends  and  sweethearts 
there  the  fruits  of  our  excursion.  It  soon  became  evident, 
however,  that  the  fresher  horses  of  our  competitors  would  win 
the  race.  Then  at  the  very  moment  when  prospects  of  success 
seemed  brightest  to  our  pursuers,  to  their  infinite  chagrin,  like 
the  clansmen  of  Roderick  on  the  Highland  pass — 

'Down  sunk  the  disappearing  band, 
Each  warrior  vanished  where  he  stood, 
In  broom  or  bracken,  heath  or  wood.' 

"Convinced  that  the  town  could  not  be  reached  and  safely 
passed,  McNeil  had  suddenly  ordered  his  men  to  enter  the 
woods  skirting  the  road,  where,  taking  a  trail  well  known  to 
us,  we  passed  through  the  ridge  to  a  point  seven  miles  east  of 
Moorefield,  on  the  South  Fork,  where  we  encamped  for  the 
night. 

"In  the  previous  twenty-four  hours  we  had  ridden  ninety 
miles  over  mountains  and  streams,  with  little  rest  or  food  for 
men  or  horses,  and,  as  may  be  imagined,  heartily  enjoyed  the 
night's  repose. 

"Our  prisoners  received  the  best  possible  care,  and  next  day 
were  started  for  Staunton.  The  headquarters  of  General  Early 
was  there,  to  whom  they  were  delivered,  and  who  sent  them 
from  thence  to  Richmond  under  charge  of  a  squad  of  their 
captors.  They  were  fortunate  enough  to  secure  an  early 
exchange,  and  were  returned  safely  back  into  their  own  lines. 

"The  following  are  verbatim  copies  of  the  only  official 
reports  of  the  affair  on  record  in  the  War  Department  at 
Washington,  and  have  probably  never  before  been  published : 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  353 

'HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA, 

February  24th,   1865. 
HON.  JNO.  C.  BRECKINRIDGE, 

Secretary  of  War: 

General  Early  reports  that  Lieutenant  McNeil  with  thirty 
men,  on  the  evening  of  the  2ist,  entered  Cumberland,  captured 
and  brought  out  Generals  Crook  and  Kelly,  the  adjutant-gen 
eral  of  the  department,  two  privates,  and  the  headquarters' 
flag,  without  firing  a  gun,  though  a  considerable  force  is  sta 
tioned  in  the  vicinity.  Lieutenant  McNeil  and  party  deserve 
much  credit  for  this  bold  exploit.  Their  prisoners  will  reach 
Staunton  today. 

R.  E.  LEE/ 

'CUMBERLAND,  MARYLAND,  February  2ist,  1865. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  SHERIDAN, 

Winchester,  Virginia: 

This  morning  about  three  o'clock  a  party  of  Confederate 
horsemen  came  upon  the  New  Creek  Road,  about  sixty  in  num 
ber.  They  captured  the  picket  and  quietly  rode  into  the  town, 
went  directly  to  the  headquarters  of  Generals  Crook  and  Kelly, 
sending  a  couple  of  men  to  each  place  to  overpower  the  head 
quarters  guard,  when  they  went  directly  to  the  room  of  General 
Crook  and,  without  disturbing  anybody  else  in  the  house, 
ordered  him  to  dress  and  took  him  downstairs  and  placed  him 
upon  a  horse  already  saddled  and  waiting.  The  same  was 
done  to  General  Kelly.  Captain  Melvin,  A.  A.  G.  to  General 
Kelly,  was  also  taken.  While  this  was  being  done  a  few  of 
them  without  creating  any  disturbance,  opened  one  or  two 
stores,  but  they  left  without  taking  anything.  It  was  done  so 
quietly  that  others  of  us  who  were  sleeping  in  adjoining  rooms 
to  General  Crook  were  not  disturbed.  The  alarm  was  given 
within  ten  minutes  by  a  darkey  watchman  at  the  hotel,  who 
escaped  from  them,  and  within  an  hour  we  had  a  party  of  fifty 
cavalry  after  them. 

They  tore  up  the  telegraph  lines,  and  it  required  almost  an 
hour  to  get  them  in  working  order.  As  soon  as  New  Creek 


354  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

could  be  called,  I  ordered  a  force  to  be  sent  to  Romney,  and 
it  started  without  any  unnecessary  delay.  A  second  force  has 
gone  from  New  Creek  to  Moorefield,  and  a  regiment  of 
infantry  has  gone  to  New  Creek  to  supply  the  place  of  the 
cavalry.  They  rode  good  horses  and  left  at  a  very  rapid  rate, 
evidently  fearful  of  being  overtaken.  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
that  instead  of  Rosser  it  is  McNeil's  company.  Most  of  the 
men  of  that  company  are  from  this  place.  I  will  telegraph  you 
fully  any  further  information. 

ROBT.  P.  KENNEDY, 
Major  and  A.  A.  G.' 

"But  little  remains  to  be  told.  Lieutenant  McNeil  secured 
at  last  his  long  deferred  captain's  commission,  but  the  war 
closing  soon  after,  he  did  not  long  enjoy  his  promotion,  and 
some  time  in  May,  1865,  in  accordance  with  the  stipulations  at 
Appomattox,  he  surrendered  his  command  for  parole.  He  then 
returned  to  the  West,  where  for  many  years  he  has  been  a 
citizen  of  Illinois,  whilst  many  of  the  captors  have  since  passed 
from  time  into  Eternity,  and  the  survivors  are  scattered. 

"Though  a  major-general  of  volunteers,  General  Crook's 
lineal  rank  in  the  regular  army  at  the  end  of  the  war  was 
captain  in  the  Fourth  Infantry.  Since  then  he  has  risen  to  the 
grade  of  major-general,  and  is  but  three  removes  from  full 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States.  He  is  at  present 
in  control  of  the  Military  Department  of  the  Missouri,  and  has 
his  headquarters  at  Chicago.  General  Kelly,  enjoying  a  sine 
cure  post  in  the  Civil  Service  and  a  modest  pension,  oscillates 
between  Washington  City  and  the  mountains  of  Maryland, 
spending  part  of  the  year  at  the  Capital  and  his  summers  on 
his  farm  in  the  Alleghanies ;  and  Major  Melvin  is  a  distin 
guished  member  of  the  bar  of  West  Virginia,  who,  since  his 
creditable  career  in  the  army  closed,  has  had  the  honor  of 
presiding  on  the  bench  of  the  most  important  circuit  court  in 
that  young  and  prosperous  State.  It  was  subsequently  ascer 
tained  that  there  were  in  the  hotel,  in  rooms  not  far  from  that  of 
General  Crook,  two  future  presidents  of  the  United  States— 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  355 

Brig.-Gen.  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  and  William  McKinley,  the 
latter  a  major  on  the  staff  of  General  Crook.  Had  they,  or 
either  of  them,  been  captured,  it  might  seriously  have  affected 
the  political  history  of  our  country. 

J.  B.  FAY. 
"July  nth,  1893." 

The  following  members  of  the  Laurel  Brigade  partici 
pated  in  the  raid  into  Cumberland,  several  of  them  enacting 
the  most  prominent  parts  in  the  capture  of  the  Federal 
Generals : 

Joseph  W.  Kuykendall,  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cav 
alry. 

Jacob  Gassman,  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry. 

John  S.  Arnold,  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry. 

George  Everitt,  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry. 

Leslie  Davis,  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry. 

George  F.  Cunningham,  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cav 
alry. 

George  Harness  Johnson,  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia 
Cavalry. 

Hiram  R.  Allen,  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry. 

John  Dailey,  Company  D,  Eleventh  Virginia  Cavalry. 

Joseph  L.  Sherrard,  Company  D,  Eleventh  Virginia  Cav 
alry. 

John  W.  Poling,  Company  D,  Eleventh  Virginia  Cavalry. 

John  David  Parsons,  Company  D,  Eleventh  Virginia  Cav 
alry. 

Joseph  A.  Pancake,  Company  D,  Eleventh  Virginia  Cavalry. 

Richard  T.  Merryman,  Company  G,  Seventh  Virginia  Cav 
alry. 

Jacob  Gassman  of  Company  F,  Seventh  Virginia  Cav 
alry,  was  one  of  the  party  who  went  to  the  room  of  General 
Crook  in  the  Revere  House,  being  the  first  to  enter. 


356  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  number  of  men  in  McNeil's  party  was  sixty-five,  and 
was  erroneously  reported  as  thirty  in  the  report  transmitted 
to  General  Lee,  and  so  reported  by  him  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  at  Richmond. 

The  success  of  McNeil,  in  reaching  Staunton  with  his 
prisoners,  is  almost  as  remarkable  as  the  capture,  when  it 
is  remembered  that  Sheridan  occupied  Winchester  and 
vicinity  with  a  large  cavalry  force,  and  was  much  nearer 
Moorefield  than  Cumberland;  and  that  New  Creek,  also 
eighteen  miles  nearer  Moorefield  than  Cumberland,  was 
occupied  by  a  considerable  Federal  force,  including  cavalry. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

March,    1865 

After  the  return  from  Beverly,  Munford's  and  Payne's  brigades  ordered 
east  of  the  Blue  Ridge — Wharton's  division  of  infantry  and  Ros- 
ser's  brigade  of  cavalry  only  force  left  under  Early  in  the  Valley 
to  face  Sheridan — Government  supplies  almost  fail,  and  home  sup 
plies  no  longer  cheer  the  soldiers — Sheridan  lays  waste  the  Valley, 
and  with  10,000  sabres  advances — Rosser  meets  him  with  300  men 
and,  aided  by  high  water,  retards  him  at  North  River — Early  with 
draws  towards  Charlottesville,  is  overtaken,  defeated,  and  his  army 
captured  or  dispersed  near  Waynesboro — Rosser  attempts  to  re 
capture  the  prisoners,  but  fails — Rosser  made  major-general  and 
Bearing  takes  command  of  the  Laurel  Brigade — The  trail  of 
Sheridan — Division  under  Rosser,  not  over  1,200  men,  moves  below 
Petersburg — Federals  capture  Five  Forks — Rosser's  division  forms 
rear  guard  of  Fitz  Lee's  column — Advancing  Federals  punished  in 
their  onsets — Deep  Creek — Brigade,  April  5th,  with  rest  of  division 
moves  towards  Amelia  Court  House — Soldiers  depressed  but  reso 
lute — Desperate  charge  of  Dearing  near  Amelia  Springs — Desperate 
fighting  by  great  fighters — Federals  driven  back  into  Jetersville — 
Death  of  Captains  Rutherford  and  Hugh  McGuire — High  Bridge — 
Death  of  Dearing,  Knott,  Thompson  and  others  and  the  wounding 
of  many — White  takes  command  of  brigade — Appomattox — The 
last  charge — Brigade  disbanded  near  Lynchburg  by  Colonel  "Lige" 
White — Remnant  of  the  Twelfth  Regiment  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Wm.  F.  Anderson  surrenders  at  Appomattox. 

Not  long  after  the  return  of  the  raiding  column  from 
Beverly,  the  cavalry  in  the  Valley  was  diminished  by  the 
removal  of  Munford's  and  Payne's  brigades  to  quarters 
east  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  To  face  Sheridan's  army  there 
remained  only  Wharton's  division  of  infantry  and  Rosser's 
brigade  of  cavalry. 

Want  of  every  description,  sharpened  by  the  severities  of 
winter,  proved  a  more  deadly  foe  than  the  armed  Federals. 


358  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  Government  supplies  almost  failed,  and  what  was 
almost  equally  as  bad,  the  customary  packages  of  clothing 
from  the  soldiers'  homes  no  longer  came  to  warm  the  bodies 
and  cheer  the  hearts  of  the  suffering  Confederates. 

Sheridan's  policy  of  destruction  had  deprived  the  families 
of  the  soldiers,  not  only  of  the  means  of  helping  their  sons 
and  husbands  in  the  field,  but  of  the  bare  necessities  of  life. 
Their  cows,  fowls,  hogs,  and  sheep,  not  to  speak  of  horses 
and  cattle,  had  been  killed  or  driven  off;  their  barns  and 
outbuildings  burned,  their  crops  consumed  or  destroyed, 
and  their  winter  supplies  of  food  and  clothing  ruthlessly 
seized.  In  many  instances  their  houses  had  been  burned, 
and  within  the  bare  walls  of  these  left  standing,  were  not 
a  few  helpless  families  of  old  men,  women,  and  children. 

Most  of  the  suffering  wives  and  mothers  in  their  letters 
suppressed  the  truth,  or  at  least  tried  to  conceal  their  des 
titution  from  the  absent  soldiers,  by  not  writing  at  all,  or 
by  sending  as  cheerful  reports  as  possible  of  their  condi 
tion;  but  "camp  rumors,"  and  the  failure  of  the  home  sup 
plies,  enabled  the  soldiers  to  read  the  truth  between  the 
lines. 

In  a  few  instances,  the  absent  breadwinners  were  earn 
estly  besought,  by  oral  or  written  messages,  to  return  home 
and  save  their  families  from  destruction. 

To  remain  idle  in  winter  quarters,  while  wives  and  little 
ones  were  freezing  and  starving  at  home,  or  perhaps  sick 
and  dying  from  neglect,  proved  in  many  cases  more  than 
husbands  and  fathers  could  bear.  Hence  it  was  but  natural 
that,  as  the  grim  winter  progressed  with  unabated  fierce 
ness,  Rosser's  force  continued  to  diminish  in  numbers. 
Amid  so  many  difficulties  Rosser  kept  his  men  together  as 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  359 

best  he  could,  deriving  some  comfort  from  the  noticeable 
fact,  that  the  desperateness  of  the  situation  had  rendered 
the  majority  of  those  who  remained  with  him  the  more 
eager  for  battle,  and  more  determined  to  do  bloody  execu 
tion  when  the  time  for  action  arrived.  He  felt  confident, 
too,  that  upon  the  first  clash  of  arms  most  of  the  absent  men 
would  return  to  their  commands. 

When,  therefore,  about  the  ist  of  March  word  was 
brought  that  Sheridan  \vas  again  moving  up  the  Valley, 
the  report  was  welcomed  as  the  harbinger  of  an  agreeable 
change  of  scene  and  an  opportunity  for  action. 

Grant  had  been  urging  Sheridan  for  some  time  to  renew 
his  attempts  upon  Gordonsville  and  the  Virginia  Central 
Railroad.  The  last  effort  in  that  quarter  had  met  with 
ignominious  failure.  Sheridan's  grand  column  had  been 
frightened  away  from  Charlottesville  by  a  handful  of 
infantry  and  militia,  while  Ouster's  march  upon  Staunton 
with  3,000  sabres  had  been  stopped  by  a  small  force  under 
Rosser.  But  Grant  was  not  satisfied,  and  with  character 
istic  pertinacity  continued  to  urge  Sheridan  to  move  for 
ward.  Sheridan,  who  never  brought  on  a  battle  except 
where  odds  were  more  than  two  to  one  in  his  favor,  seemed 
to  have  been  made  timid  by  his  so-called  brilliant  victories. 
He  appeared  now  to  be  waiting  until  there  was  no  force  left 
in  the  Valley  to  oppose  him.  At  last,  pushed  on  by  Grant, 
Sheridan  on  the  2/th  of  February,  1865,  moved  up  the 
Valley  from  Winchester  with  a  superb  column  of  10,000 
sabres.1 

Rosser  with  about  300  men  met  him  at  North  River  for 
the  purpose  of  delaying  his  march  until  Early's  small  force 


iPond's  "Shenandoah  Valley,"  page  252. 


360  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

of  Wharton's  brigades  of  infantry  could  reach  a  defensible 
position.  Hastily  constructing  some  breastworks  near  the^ 
bridge,  he  held  Sheridan  at  bay  for  twenty-four  hours,  the 
river  being  swollen  and  past  fording.  Next  day,  the  river 
had  run  down,  or  at  any  rate,  a  body  of  Federal  cavalry 
crossed  the  river  above  the  bridge  and  attacked  the  Con 
federates  in  flank.  Sheridan  now  pushing  across  the  bridge, 
a  sharp  fight  ensued,  that  resulted  in  Rosser's  being  driven 
off  with  a  loss  of  a  part  of  his  dismounted  men,  who  were 
in  the  temporary  breastworks  near  the  bridge.  Rosser  now 
fell  back  towards  Staunton,  and  was  ordered  by  Early  to 
hang  on  the  flanks  of  the  enemy. 

In  the  meantime  Early  had  withdrawn  towards  Char- 
lottesville,  and  upon  hearing  of  the  near  approach  of  Sheri 
dan,  he  halted  his  command  at  Waynesboro,  and  drew  them 
up  in  battle  array  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  having  the 
stream  in  his  rear.  Here  with  characteristic  serenity  he 
awaited  the  foe. 

General  Custer,  who  led  the  Federal  advance,  did  not  hes 
itate  to  attack,  adopting  the  plan  that  at  Winchester,  Fish 
er's  Hill,  Toms  Brook,  and  Cedar  Creek  had  uniformly 
brought  victory  to  the  Federal  standard.  Sending  three 
regiments  around  to  assail  Early's  left  flank,  with  a  strong 
force  he  attacked  in  front.  Early's  men,  having  little  hope 
of  success  at  the  outset  against  Sheridan's  superior  num 
bers,  when  they  saw  the  same  old  movement  against  their 
flank,  that  had  so  often  before  proved  disastrous,  at  once 
despaired  of  making  a  successful  resistance  and  threw  down 
their  arms.  General  Early  escaped  through  the  bushes,  but 
nearly  the  whole  of  his  command  was  made  prisoners. 


COL.    M.    D.    BALL 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  361 

This  was  the  last  of  that  gallant  army  that  had  followed 
Early  so  long,  contending  nearly  always  against  more  than 
double  its  numbers,  and  though  often  beaten,  yet  had  again 
and  again  rallied  and  met  the  foe  with  intrepid  front. 
Under  Early's  leadership  it  had  invaded  Pennsylvania, 
and  had  marched  with  victorious  banner  to  the  environ 
ments  of  Washington,  creating  consternation  in  the  Federal 
Capital,  and  alarm  for  its  safety  throughout  the  North. 
Upon  its  withdrawal  to  the  Valley,  it  had  been  almost  con 
stantly  battling  against  the  army  of  Sheridan,  which  was 
always  superior  in  numbers  and  equipment.  If  the  per 
sistent  audacity  of  Early  had  served  to  make  fame  for 
Sheridan,  among  those  ignorant  of  the  true  conditions,  it 
had  revealed  to  the  historian  a  command  composed  of 
heroic  Southerners,  unconquered  by  defeat,  and  unappalled 
by  disaster. 

The  common  mind  measures  the  merit  of  a  general  by 
the  splendor  of  his  victories.  To  appreciate  the  conduct  of 
Early  and  his  men,  a  different  and  higher  standard  must 
be  adopted.  The  leader  who  fights  for  glory  only,  and  will 
not  hazard  a  battle  without  a  double  assurance  of  success,  is 
hardly  to  be  compared  to  one  who,  for  duty's  sake,  engages 
in  an  unequal  combat  with  hardly  a  chance  for  victory.  The 
prime  object  of  Early  and  his  command,  was  not  so  much  to 
beat  Sheridan,  as  it  was  to  hold  him  at  bay,  and  by  threat 
ening  Washington,  compel  a  force  greatly  superior  to  his 
own,  to  remain  detached  from  Grant's  army.  This  was 
successfully  accomplished.  The  wonder  is  not  that  Sher 
idan  beat  Early  so  often,  as  that  he  took  so  long  to  drive 
him  out  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  And  if  Early  often 
fought  with  his  adversary  from  a  sense  of  duty  and  loyalty 


362  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

to  the  Confederate  cause,  as  he  appears  to  have  done,  his 
very  defeats  are  more  glorious  than  Sheridan's  boasted 
victories. 

The  capture  of  Wharton's  two  brigades  at  Waynesboro 
virtually  closed  the  campaign  in  the  Valley.  Sheridan  from 
Waynesboro  moved  towards  Charlottesville,  after  sending 
his  1,100  prisoners  back  towards  Winchester  under  a  guard 
of  about  1,200  cavalry. 

When  Rosser  saw  the  long  train  of  prisoners  going  down 
the  Valley,  he  determined  to  try  and  rescue  them.  Follow 
ing  the  column  with  about  300  men,  he  seized  every  oppor 
tunity  to  harass  the  guard.  The  enemy  was  on  the  alert, 
knowing  his  intentions.  On  the  night  of  the  4th  of  March, 
near  Harrisonburg,  Rosser  attacked  the  Federal  camp.  The 
attack  was  repulsed,  but  in  the  confusion  a  few  of  the  pris 
oners  escaped.  Knowing  that  the  Shenandoah  was  high, 
Rosser  sent  detachments  ahead  to  hold  the  fords  as  long  as 
they  could.  For  two  days  the  Federals  were  detained  at 
Meem's  Bottom. 

During  the  evening  of  March  5th,  in  order  to  magnify 
his  force  in  the  estimation  of  the  enemy,  and  create  appre 
hension  among  the  guard,  as  well  as  to  excite  the  hope  of 
the  prisoners,  Rosser  sent  detachments  on  the  flanks,  with 
orders  to  move  continuously  over  the  hill  in  full  view  of  the 
enemy.  Spies  were  also  despatched  to  mingle  among  the 
captives  and  persuade  them  to  revolt  and  co-operate  with 
Rosser  when  he  should  make  his  attempt  at  rescue. 

In  the  morning  of  the  6th,  when  the  Federal  column  was 
in  the  act  of  crossing  the  river,  Rosser  charged  the  guard. 
The  prisoners,  either  from  indifference  or  despair,  failed  to 
co-operate,  and  though  Rosser  again  and  again  attacked, 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  363 

all  his  efforts  proved  futile.  For  a  short  time  there  was 
great  confusion,  but  the  Federals  succeeded  in  getting 
across  the  river  without  serious  loss.  Rosser  giving  up  the 
hope  of  rescuing  the  prisoners,  returned  to  the  upper 
Valley. 

Sheridan  was  over  the  ridge  on  his  mission  of  destruc 
tion.  There  was  nothing  to  do  but  to  follow  on  his  trail. 
After  reaching  Charlottesville  the  Federals  had  turned 
towards  Lynchburg;  one-half  of  the  raiding  column  of  10,- 
ooo  sabres  were  engaged  in  tearing  up  the  railroad  track, 
the  other  in  destroying  the  locks  and  culverts  of  the  James 
River  Canal.  The  business  was  one  congenial  to  Sheridan. 
He  had  learned  from  Grant  that  the  most  effectual  way  of 
injuring  Lee  was  to  devastate  Virginia,  and  he  was  doing 
it  thoroughly,  making  his  swath  of  destruction  widespread 
and  leaving  utter  desolation  behind  him. 

Says  Grant  in  his  memoirs :  "All  mills  and  factories 
along  the  line  of  his  march  were  destroyed.  Negroes  had 
joined  his  column  to  the  number  of  2,000,  and  they  assisted 
considerably  in  the  work  of  destroying  the  railroads  and 
the  canal." 

To  follow  on  the  trail  of  Sheridan  was  difficult.  The 
roads  were  rendered  almost  impassable,  so  badly  were 
they  cut  up  by  Sheridan's  column  owing  to  the  frequent 
rains.  The  country  was  stripped  bare,  and  so  far  as  food 
and  forage  were  concerned  it  was  like  traveling  through  a 
desert.  The  havoc  and  ruin  that  met  the  eye  at  every  step, 
suggested  the  end  of  all  things,  and  often  the  scenes  of  wan 
ton  desolation,  and  the  stories  of  brutal  treatment,  excited 
in  the  Confederate  soldiers  longing  for  revenge. 


364  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

In  the  latter  part  of  March,  1865,  Brig.-Genl.  Thomas  L. 
Rosser  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general,  and 
placed  in  command  of  a  division  composed  of  his  own  bri 
gade,  consisting  still  of  what  was  left  of  the  Seventh, 
Eleventh,  and  Twelfth  Virginia  regiments  and  the  Thirty- 
fifth  Virginia  Battalion,  now  put  under  command  of  Col. 
James  Bearing,  who  was  then  made  a  brigadier-general; 
and  a  brigade  consisting  of  the  remnants  of  the  Sixteenth, 
Seventeenth,  Twenty-first,  and  Twenty-second  regiments  of 
Virginia  Cavalry,  under  Brig.-Genl.  John  McCausland. 

The  new  commander  of  the  Laurel  Brigade  was  a  young 
Virginian  not  only  descended  from  distinguished  Revolu 
tionary  ancestry,  but  with  a  reputation  of  his  own  for  valor 
and  skill,  well  earned,  through  almost  four  years  of  con 
tinuous  service  in  the  Confederate  Army. 

Having  been  appointed  to  West  Point  in  1858,  he  with 
Rosser  and  other  Southern  cadets  resigned  and  tendered 
their  services  to  Virginia  and  the  Southern  Confederacy. 
He  was  at  first  assigned  to  duty  with  the  Washington 
Artillery,  served  a  short  time  on  the  staff  of  General  Beau- 
reguard;  and  was  later  made  colonel  of  cavalry.  He  was  a 
man  of  soldierly  appearance,  and  being  a  courageous  and 
dashing  soldier,  and  withal  a  man  of  winning  disposition, 
during  his  short  but  eventful  career  as  commander  of  the 
brigade,  he  became  greatly  endeared  to  the  officers  and  men. 

On  the  1 6th  of  March  Rosser's  division  reached  Hanover 
Court  House,  and  found  there  a  part  of  Longstreet's  corps 
on  the  lookout  for  Sheridan,  who  was  then  near  Mangohick 
Church,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Pamunkey.  Effort  was 
made  to  get  the  Confederate  force  across  the  river  and  put 
it  in  Sheridan's  front,  but  the  pontoon  train  failed  to  arrive 


BRIG.-GENL.    JAMES    DEARING 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  365 

and  the  bridge  of  boats  and  rafts  was  not  complete  until  the 
morning  of  the  i/th.  A  part  of  Long-street's  corps  had 
already  crossed,  but  the  movement  was  put  an  end  to  by  an 
order  from  Genl.  R.  E.  Lee  recalling  the  whole  force  to 
Richmond. 

The  division  was  now  ordered  to  Petersburg,  and  the  bri 
gade  once  more  went  into  camp  near  the  sluggish  Notta- 
way;  the  division  taking  position  on  Lee's  extreme  right. 

In  a  few  days  there  was  fighting  near  Dinwiddie  Court 
House  between  Fitz  Lee  and  Sheridan,  and  Rosser's  divi 
sion  was  ordered  to  that  point.  A  few  days  before  White's 
Battalion  had  rejoined  the  brigade,  but  like  most  of  the 
other  commands,  it  was  greatly  diminished  in  numbers. 
Rosser's  division  of  twro  brigades  hardly  numbered  1,200 
men. 

From  Dinwiddie  Court  House  Sheridan  was  attempting 
to  reach  Five  Forks,  by  a  road  leading  northwest,  for  the 
purpose  of  menacing  Lee's  line. 

"My  hope,"  says  General  Grant  in  his  memoirs,  "was 
that  Sheridan  would  be  able  to  carry  Five  Forks,  get  on  the 
enemy's  right  flank  and  rear,  and  force  them  to  weaken 
their  center  to  protect  their  right,  so  that  an  assault  in  the 
center  might  be  successfully  made." 

General  Lee,  knowing  the  strategic  value  of  this  point, 
was  obliged  to  make  a  great  effort  to  hold  it;  and  accord 
ingly,  on  the  3Oth  of  March,  Pickett  with  five  small  bri 
gades  of  infantry  was  sent  thither. 

In  the  meantime  General  Fitz  Lee,  now  commanding  the 
cavalry  corps,  with  a  greatly  inferior  force  was  disputing 
every  inch  of  ground  with  Sheridan. 


366  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

After  an  all-night  march  Rosser's  division,  on  March 
3Oth,  reached  the  vicinity  of  Five  Forks,  where  the  main 
body  of  the  cavalry  had  gone  into  camp.  The  resting  spell 
was  short,  for  about  noon  on  the  3ist  Fitz  Lee  moved  out 
to  give  battle  to  Sheridan. 

Rosser's  and  W.  H.  F.  Lee's  divisions,  followed  by 
Pickett's  infantry,  moved  by  a  concealed  wooded  road,  to 
turn  and  attack  the  Federal  flank,  while  Munford  with  Fitz 
Lee's  old  division  held  the  lines  in  front  of  the  enemy.  The 
well-laid  plan  for  surprising  and  assailing  the  enemy's 
flank  seems  to  have  been  somewhat  anticipated  by  Sheridan. 
Upon  reaching  Chamberlin's  Creek,  it  was  found  that  the 
Federals  were  on  the  opposite  side  strongly  entrenched. 
Nevertheless  the  Confederates  pushed  forward,  driving  the 
enemy  back  some  distance.  The  cavalry,  dismounted, 
fought  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  infantry. 

In  the  battle  Rosser  was  wounded  in  the  arm,  but  refus 
ing  to  leave  the  field,  and  with  his  wounded  arm  in  a  sling, 
still  continued  at  the  post  of  duty. 

"In  this  engagement,"  says  Fitz  Lee  in  his  report,  "the 
loss  in  Rosser's  division  was  serious,  but  the  details  are 
unknown." 

Darkness  closed  the  contest,  and  Fitz  Lee  went  into  camp 
holding  the  ground  he  had  won.  During  the  night,  hav 
ing  received  the  information  that  his  left  flank  was  menaced 
by  a  Federal  corps  of  infantry  that  had  come  to  Sheridan's 
assistance,  Fitz  Lee  early  on  the  morning  of  April  the  ist 
began  to  withdraw  and  again  returned  to  Five  Forks. 

Here  Pickett  drew  up  his  men  in  line  of  battle  with  W. 
H.  F.  Lee's  and  Munford's  divisions  of  cavalry  on  his  right, 
and  one  regiment  of  Munford's  division  on  his  left. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  367 

Rosser  was  placed  just  in  the  rear  of  the  center  as  a  re 
serve,  Hatcher's  Run  intervening  between  him  and  our 
line.2 

About  three  o'clock  P.  M.  a  Federal  corps  of  infantry, 
Warren's,  marched  up  and  menaced  the  Confederate  left, 
and  Munford  was  sent  with  two  small  brigades  to  meet  it. 
Warren's  forest  of  bayonets  stretched  far  beyond  the  right 
and  left  of  Munford,  enveloping  the  Confederate  position, 
and  with  overflowing  numbers  swept  onward. 

Munford  after  a  brave  but  vain  resistance  withdrew,  and 
Pickett,  now  assailed  by  Sheridan  in  front  and  Warren's 
multitudes  on  his  left  flank,  was  driven  rapidly  towards  the 
right  of  his  line.  "Before  Rosser  could  cross  Hatcher's 
Run,  the  position  at  the  Forks  was  seized  and  held  by  the 
Federals,  and  an  advance  towards  the  railroad  made.  It 
was  repulsed  by  Rosser."3 

So  sudden  and  overwhelming  was  the  Federal  assault, 
that  masses  of  infantry  poured  in  between  Rosser's  division 
and  the  main  body,  and  cut  off  Genl.  W.  H.  F.  Lee  and 
Pickett,  who  were  in  Rosser's  camp  at  the  time,  from  their 
commands.  Sheridan  pressed  his  advantage,  and  crowding 
the  Confederates  drove  them  back  some  miles,  the  retreat 
degenerating  into  a  rout. 

Pickett,  with  only  7,000  of  all  arms,  could  hardly  hope 
to  successfully  resist  an  army  of  26,000  men. 

That  night  Rosser's  division  still  remained  in  the  rear  of 
Hatcher's  Run,  and  on  the  following  morning,  April  2nd, 
with  difficulty  withdrew  towards  Amelia  Court  House. 

Anderson's  division  had  been  sent  to  aid  in  holding  Five 
Forks,  but  taking  a  circuitous  route  it  did  not  arrive  in  time. 


2Fitz  Lee's  Report. 
3Fitz  Lee's  Report. 


368  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Grant,  profiting  by  the  weakening  of  Lee's  center, 
assaulted  his  works  and  carried  the  outer  line.  The  roar  of 
the  cannon  at  Petersburg  was  heard  beyond  Hatcher's  Run, 
and  the  news  of  Lee's  disaster  soon  spread  through  the 
army. 

The  night  of  the  2nd  Bearing's  brigade  had  encamped 
near  Namozine  Church.  During  the  day  the  Federal  pur 
suit  had  not  been  vigorous,  for  Sheridan  with  most  of  his 
cavalry  had  turned  towards  Petersburg. 

By  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  3rd  Petersburg  was 
given  up,  and  the  whole  army  of  Lee  began  to  fall  back. 
The  Federals  pressed  his  rear  guard  closely,  and  sent  out 
their  numerous  squadrons  to  harass  the  flanks  of  the  retir 
ing  Confederates. 

At  dawn  on  the  3rd  of  April,  Bearing's  brigade  with  the 
rest  of  the  Confederates  resumed  the  retreat. 

The  news  of  the  disaster  at  Petersburg  had  spread 
through  the  army  and  deepened  their  sorrow  for  the  loss 
of  Five  Forks.  Now,  for  the  first  time,  some  began  to  lose 
confidence  in  the  star  of  Lee.  Though  they  still  deemed 
him  invincible  in  battle,  they  could  not  repress  the  appre 
hension,  that  even  his  genius  might  prove  powerless  against 
those  grim  allies  of  Grant,  famine  and  general  want. 

On  the  march,  at  first,  Rosser's  division  constituted  the 
rear  guard  of  the  column  under  Fitz  Lee.  A  continuous 
skirmish  with  the  enemy  was  kept  up.  The  road  was 
muddy  and  the  wagons  dragged  heavily.  At  points  of 
advantage  a  stand  was  made.  Sometimes  the  men  dis 
mounted  and  fired  from  under  cover,  at  others  a  dashing 
charge  was  made,  and  the  confident  foe  was  taught,  by  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  369 

fierceness  of  the  onset,  to  beware  of  valor  inspired  by 
despair. 

The  Federals,  however,  pressed  on  with  numerous 
squadrons. 

A  regiment  of  infantry.  Colonel  Tabb's  of  Wise's 
brigade,  now  aided  the  rear  guard,  and  the  column 
fell  back  slowly  in  the  direction  of  Tabernacle  Church,  the 
enemy  keeping  at  a  respectful  distance. 

Upon  nearing  Deep  Creek  a  regiment  of  Rosser's  divi 
sion  was  sent  out  to  occupy  and  hold  the  bridge.  But  a 
Federal  force  had  already  been  despatched  on  the  same 
errand.  Within  a  mile  of  the  bridge  it  was  encountered 
and  a  sharp  fight  ensued,  in  which  the  Confederates  were 
worsted. 

The  whole  of  Rosser's  division  and  Wise's  brigade  of 
infantry  now  came  to  the  rescue.  The  Federals  stubbornly 
resisted  for  a  while,  but  were  forced  to  retire  after  suffering 
serious  loss. 

After  crossing  Deep  Creek  the  cavalry  went  into  camp 
near  Tabernacle  Church. 

'To  give  a  check  to  the  enemy's  rapid  advance,  at  Deep 
Creek  the  command  was  placed  in  line  of  battle  to  take 
advantage  of  the  defensive  position  there  offered."4 

In  the  battle  that  ensued  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  under 
Col.  M.  D.  Ball,  and  the  Twelfth,  under  Major  Knott,  par 
ticipated  gallantly,  repulsing  the  advance  along  their  front. 

From  Deep  Creek  Rosser's  division  moved  back  to  the 
Devil's  Bridge  Road,  \vith  orders  to  cover  the  rear  of  the 
wagon  trains  belonging  to  the  main  army  of  Genl.  Robert 
E.  Lee. 


4Lee's  Report. 


3/o  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Over  Devil's  Bridge  the  bulk  of  Lee's  army  had  crossed 
the  Appomattox  River  to  the  right  bank,  and  from  this 
point  on  the  line  of  retreat,  the  Federal  pursuit  grew  daily 
more  vigorous.  The  wagon  trains  were  a  favorite  object 
of  Sheridan's  cavalry,  as  being  next  in  importance  to  barns, 
stack-yards,  and  mills,  which  had  suffered  so  much  at 
Sheridan's  hands.  The  same  old  policy  of  destroying  Lee's 
means  of  subsistence  was  kept  up  to  the  end. 

Not  a  few  of  Lee's  wagons,  however,  were  burned  by  his 
own  orders,  the  knowledge  of  which  had  quite  a  discourag 
ing  effect  on  his  soldiers. 

To  aid  in  protecting  the  trains,  Rosser's  division  was 
ordered  to  take  position  near  Pleasant  Oaks,  on  the  left  of  a 
heavy  infantry  force  under  General  Anderson. 

All  night  long  the  Federals  threatened  an  advance,  but 
the  most  serious  result  of  their  menace,  was  the  loss  of  sleep 
it  entailed  on  the  part  of  the  Confederates. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th  Bearing's  brigade,  the  old  Lau 
rel,  with  the  rest  of  the  divisionmoved  towards  Amelia  Court 
House.  The  suffering  of  the  men  for  the  want  of  food  and 
rest  were  now  almost  unbearable,  and  their  spirits  were 
depressed  by  the  exaggerated  rumors  of  disaster  to  the  in 
fantry  columns,  which  spread  quickly  through  the  ranks. 

Intense  bodily  distress,  and  a  prospect  of  impending  dis 
aster,  filled  the  minds  of  many  with  gloomy  forebodings, 
and  over  the  hearts  of  even  the  bravest  there  flitted  the 
shadows  of  despair.  Yet  no  outward  sign  of  discourage 
ment  was  given,  only  the  weary  troopers  marched  on,  with 
an  intensified  desire  for  the  relief  of  battle  depicted  in  their 
grim  and  care-worn  countenances. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  371 

The  hopeful  ones,  however,  were  easily  encouraged,  and 
the  promise  of  better  cheer  at  the  next  halting  place,  in  a 
measure  sustained  their  spirits,  though  like  the  phantom 
waters  of  the  desert,  the  good  cheer  failed  to  be  overtaken. 
It  was  now  said  that  there  was  an  abundance  of  food  and 
forage  at  Amelia  Court  House,  and  with  gladdened  hearts 
the  starving  Confederates  moved  on.  Upon  arriving  there 
some  corn-meal  was  gotten  for  the  men,  but  there  was  noth 
ing  whatever  for  the  horses. 

After  a  short  halt  the  march  was  resumed.  An  order  had 
come  for  the  division  to  move  at  once  towards  Amelia 
Springs,  near  which  place  the  Federals  were  engaged  in 
burning  Lee's  trains.  Moving  at  a  trot  the  command  soon 
reached  Shank's  Farm.  There  were  the  blackened  ruins  of 
the  wagons,  but  the  Federals  were  gone.  Fitz  Lee,  with 
a  cavalry  force,  had  gotten  there  ahead  of  Rosser,  but  too 
late  to  prevent  the  burning  of  some  of  the  wagons.  He  had 
ridden  on  in  hot  pursuit,  leaving  orders  for  Rosser  to  join 
him,  following  on  the  road  to  Amelia  Springs.  The  jaded 
horses  were  spurred  into  a  gallop  and  Fitz  Lee  was  soon 
overtaken. 

Upon  nearing  the  Springs  the  enemy  was  discovered 
drawn  up  on  a  high  ridge.  "Ride  over  them!''  was  Ros- 
ser's  order  to  General  Bearing  after  a  momentary  inspec 
tion  of  the  hostile  force.  Dearing  did  not  wait  for  a  second 
command,  though  the  enemy  greatly  outnumbered  him. 
"Forward!  Gallop.  March!''  he  cried,  and  waving  his  hat 
lie  led  the  way,  the  gallant  spirits  of  the  foremost  squad 
ron  eagerly  contending  with  him  for  the  post  of  honor. 

The  Federals  were  strongly  posted,  splendidly  armed  and 
mounted,  and  flushed  with  victory.  Against  them  came  a 


372  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

greatly  inferior  force,  both  horses  and  men  weak  from  want 
of  food  and  sleep.  Their  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted, 
but  their  trusty  sabres  were  sharp  and  gave  a  steady  gleam 
as  the  charging  column  approached  the  summit  of  the 
ridge. 

The  Federals  with  solid  front  and  stubborn  courage 
received  the  assault.  The  Confederates  did  not  pause,  but 
with  fiery  eagerness  dashed  onward,  piercing  the  hostile  line 
and  using  their  sabres  with  great  effect ;  and  the  nearest  foe- 
men,  appalled  at  the  fury  of  the  onset,  began  to  give  way 
and  turn  their  backs.  The  disorder  spread  and  soon  the 
whole  Federal  force  broke  and  fled.  Like  an  avenging 
nemesis  the  grey  troopers  rode  among  them,  doing  bloody 
execution.  With  great  spirit  the  Federal  officers  attempted 
to  stem  the  tide,  but  the  onward  rush  of  the  victors  seemed 
resistless. 

Along  with  Bearing  rode  many  of  the  choice  spirits,  offi 
cers,  and  men  of  the  brigade,  for  as  in  the  charge  so  in  the 
pursuit,  there  was  a  noble  emulation  of  valor.  Among  the 
foremost  were  Captains  James  Rutherford,  Hugh  McGuire, 
and  Fox  Dangerfield.  There,  too,  with  many  others  were 
the  lions  of  the  horse  artillery,  Majors  James  Thompson, 
James  Breathed,  and  Col.  R.  P.  Chew. 

In  the  charge  the  leading  regiment  was  the  Eleventh, 
under  Colonel  Ball,  the  foremost  company  that  of  Capt. 
Hugh  McGuire. 

The  Federals  in  their  retreat,  when  climbing  the  hill  near 
Jeters  house,  were  so  closely  pursued  that  they  left  the  road 
and  turned  into  the  pines  and  escaped. 

The  Confederates  now  halted  and  began  to  form,  in  anti 
cipation  of  a  hostile  movement  from  Jetersville,  for  a  large 


CAPT.   HUGH    H.    McGUIRE 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  373 

body  of  Federal  cavalry  was  posted  there.  Soon  from  this 
direction  a  heavy  column  approached.  The  odds  were 
great,  but  once  more  the  grey  troopers,  McGuire's  company 
in  front,  dashed  forward  and  turned  back  the  Federal  col 
umn,  driving  it  pell-mell. 

The  violence  of  the  assault  gave  no  opportunity  to  re 
form,  and  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy  only  made  the 
unwieldy  mass  an  easier  prey  for  slaughter.  The  Confed 
erates  rode  among  them  sabring  at  will  and  chased  the 
fugitives  back  into  Jetersville. 

In  this  action  the  Federals  lost  heavily.  The  loss  to  the 
Confederates  was  small  in  numbers,  but  two  of  their  best 
officers  were  mortally  wounded,  Capt.  Hugh  McGuire  of 
Company  E,  Eleventh  Virginia,  and  Capt.  James  Ruth 
erford  of  General  Bearing's  staff.  'Two  of  my  best  and 
bravest  officers,"  wrote  Genl.  Fitz  Lee.  'Two  unusually 
promising  men  and  most  superb  soldiers."  wrote  General 
Rosser. 

By  the  men  of  the  brigade  the  loss  of  Capt.  Hugh  Holmes 
McGuire  was  especially  lamented.  Being  in  the  early 
flower  of  manhood,  only  twenty-three  years  of  age,  of 
splendid  form,  of  genial  and  winning  disposition,  and  rashly 
brave  in  battle,  there  were  united  in  him  the  qualities  that 
never  fail  to  win  the  admiration  and  affection  of  men.5 

The  fight  was  over  for  that  day  at  least;  the  trains  were 
rescued  and  the  Federals  heavily  punished,  though  the 
cravings  of  hunger  were  still  unappeased.  Perhaps  the  pain 


5 Among  the  wounded  were  General  Bearing,  and  Maj.  James  W. 
Thompson  of  the  horse  artillery,  each  in  the  arm,  and  Capt.  Foxhall 
Dangerfield  of  the  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry,  through  the  thigh.  All 
of  whom,  with  their  wounds  bandaged,  participated  in  the  next  day's 
fighting,  in  which  the  two  former  met  death. 


374  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

of  long  abstinence  had  much  to  do  with  the  fierceness  of  the 
Confederate  charge  at  Jetersville. 

Says  Fitz  Lee  in  his  report,  "In  this  encounter  thirty  of 
the  enemy  were  killed,  principally  with  sabres,  and  150 
wounded  or  captured.  The  gallantry  of  General  Bearing  in 
leading  the  charge  of  his  command  was  conspicuous." 

This  bloody  little  victory  greatly  encouraged  the  men  of 
the  brigade,  and  though  they  passed  a  restless  night,  spend 
ing  much  of  it  in  search  of  food  and  forage,  and  in  caring- 
tor  their  wounded,  they  arose  at  dawn  stirred  with  new 
hope.  Little  did  they  think  that  to  many  of  their  bravest 
that  day  would  be  the  last. 

During  the  night  of  the  5th  Grant's  army  had  been 
marching  in  all  directions  in  the  endeavor  to  encompass 
Lee,  who  had  his  main  body  in  and  around  Amelia  Court 
House.  It  was  Grant's  plan,  first,  to  prevent  Lee  from 
moving  southward  and  uniting  with  the  army  of  Johnston, 
and  next,  if  possible,  to  end  the  matter  before  Lee  could 
move  further  west. 

The  Federals  were  full  of  enthusiasm,  each  man  wishing 
to  participate  in  the  overthrow  of  an  army  that  for  four 
long  years  had  been  crowned  with  victory. 

A  part  of  the  plan  to  head  off  Lee  was  to  destroy  High 
Bridge  over  the  Appomattox  River.  For  this  purpose  a 
considerable  body  of  infantry  under  General  Reid,  and  a 

Maj.  John  Locher  Knott.  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry,  was 
captain  of  Company  D  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry,  and  wa^ 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  He  was  killed  at  the  desperate  fight 
at  High  Bridge.  He  was  greatly  admired  and  beloved  by  the  men  of 
the  regiment.  No  truer  patriot  nor  braver  soldier  served  in  the  Con 
federate  cause. 


MAJ.   JOHN    LOCHER    KNOTT 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  375 

squadron  of  cavalry  under  Colonel  Washtmrn,  had  been  de 
spatched  on  the  morning  of  the  6th. 

Rosser  with  his  own  division  and  parts  of  W.  H.  F.  Lee's 
and  Munford's  divisions  had  been  ordered  by  Genl.  Fit/ 
Lee  to  move  to  Rice's  Station,  on  the  Southside  Railroad, 
and  report  to  General  Long-street.  As  nearly  all  the  roads 
were  occupied  by  trains  and  artillery  moving  in  the  same 
direction,  the  march  thither  had  to  be  mainly  through  fields 
and  woods.  By  means  of  efficient  guides  the  march  was 
accomplished,  and  in  good  time,  too,  for  there  was  memora 
ble  service  to  be  rendered  there  that  day  by  the  cavalry. 

On  the  part  of  the  Federals  General  Ord  had  been 
directed  to  take  possession  of  all  the  roads  southward 
between  Burkeville  and  High  Bridge. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  6th  Ord  sent  Colonel  Washburn 
with  two  infantry  regiments,  with  instructions  to  destroy 
High  Bridge  and  return  rapidly  to  Burkeville  station.'"5 

Intelligence  of  the  movement  reached  Long-street's  head 
quarters  shortly  after  the  arrival  of  Rosser  with  the  cavalry, 
and  with  Long-street's  consent  Rosser,  after  having  estab 
lished  his  pickets,  and  leaving  a  regiment  to  support  them, 
marched  with  the  rest  of  his  command  to  overtake  and  cap 
ture  this  audacious  body  of  Federals. 

About  one  o'clock  P.  M.  they  were  discovered  near  Wat 
son's  Farm  before  they  had  reached  High  Bridge.  Notified 
of  Rosser's  approach,  General  Reid  posted  his  men  in  a 
strong  position  along  the  edge  of  a  forest  behind  a  high 
fence. 

It  was  of  supreme  importance  that  Rosser  should  attack 
at  once,  and  the  Confederates  advanced  to  the  assault. 


"Grant's  Memoirs. 


376  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Munford's  division  as  well  as  Rosser's  had  been  greatly 
reduced  by  the  constant  fighting  and  marching,  and  Ros 
ser's  whole  force  hardly  numbered  more  than  1,200  men. 
The  strength  of  the  enemy  is  unknown,  but  was  less  numer 
ically  than  the  Confederate;  but  their  infantry  made  it 
stronger  in  point  of  fact. 

Munford's  division,  dismounted,  advanced  through  a 
body  of  pines  to  the  edge  of  a  field,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
which  slightly  to  the  right  of  Munford's  front  was  General 
Reid's  command,  behind  a  high  fence  in  the  edge  of  the 
woods. 

Across  this  field  the  dismounted  men  charged  under  a 
heavy  fire  of  the  enemy's  infantry.  At  the  same  time  the 
mounted  brigades  of  McCausland  and  Bearing  assaulted  the 
Federal  right  flank.  Against  them  boldly  advanced  a  body 
of  infantry  and  cavalry  under  Colonel  Washburn.  The 
approaching  columns  as  they  drew  near  each  other  did  not 
slacken  speed,  but  rushed  on  with  reckless  daring,  eager 
for  the  trial  of  strength. 

Washburn,  gallantly  leading  his  command,  was  met  with 
equal  gallantry  by  General  Bearing,  and  now  all  along  the 
battle  front,  there  was  the  clash  of  steel,  and  the  cries  of 
furious  combatants  mingled  with  the  sound  of  small  arms. 
The  two  foremost  leaders  of  either  side,  Bearing  and  Wash- 
burn,  closed  in  a  hand-to-hand  encounter,  supported  each 
by  brave  followers,  who  rushed  to  the  rescue  of  their  chiefs, 
and  fought  around  them  with  determined  valor.  Bearing 
and  Washburn  had  been  old  schoolmates  at  West  Point, 
but  did  not  recognize  each  other.  In  the  general  mix-up 
they  were  separated  before  either  had  hurt  the  other,  but  a 
moment  afterwards  Washburn  fell  pierced  by  a  bullet. 


MAJ.   JAMES   THOMPSON 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  377 

Bearing1,  too,  fell  near  by,  mortally  wounded  by  a  bullet 
supposed  by  him  to  have  come  from  his  own  men,  but  more 
generally  believed  to  have  come  from  the  enemy.  Such 
was  the  confusion  and  fury  of  the  conflict  the  truth  cannot 
be  established. 

Bearing  fell  while  in  the  act  of  discharging  his  pistol  at 
General  Reid,  another  schoolmate,  who  was  killed  by  the 
shot,  neither  having  recognized  the  other,  and  around  these 
fallen  officers  the  waves  of  battle  surged  to  and  fro,  until  the 
F'ederals  of  the  charging  column  were  all  either  killed, 
wounded  or  captured. 

The  number  of  prisoners  taken,  according  to  the  report 
of  Genl.  Fitzhugh  Lee,  amounted  to  780.  These  were  taken 
over  by  the  proper  officers,  and  the  brigade,  now  under  the 
command  of  Col.  E.  V.  White,  better  known  as  "Lige,"  of 
the  Thirty-fifth  Battalion,  went  with  Rosser  back  to  Rice's 
Station. 

Among  those  who  fell  in  this  fight,  in  the  early  part  of 
it,  was  the  gallant  Major  Knott  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia,  a 
modest,  brave  and  efficient  officer,  exceedingly  popular 
among  the  officers  and  men,  and  whose  loss  was  a  sad  blow 
to  the  cause. 

There  also  fell  the  gallant  Maj.  James  W.  Thompson  of 
the  horse  artillery,  whose  guns  being  retarded  by  the  impas- 
sability  of  the  roads,  had  for  two  days  been  fighting  with 
the  cavalry  and  participated  in  this  desperate  engagement; 
the  day  before,  near  Amelia  Springs  he  was  wounded  in 
the  arm.  He  fell  while  pursuing  fugitives  after  the  onset 
at  High  Bridge,  wounded  in  several  places,  his  death  wound 
being  through  the  vertebra  of  the  neck. 


378  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

The  hand-to-hand  conflicts,  in  this  tierce  encounter, 
engaged  in  by  many  brave  privates  as  well  as  officers,  are 
worthy  of  special  mention,  which  space  here  forbids. 

From  High  Bridge  Rosser  returned  to  Rice's  Station 
and  took  position  on  the  right  of  Longstreet's  line,  which 
was  in  position  to  resist  a  threatened  advance  of  the  Fed 
erals.  The  night  passed  without  a  battle,  though  through 
out  its  weary  hours  it  was  constantly  expected. 

The  tired  soldiers,  many  of  whom  were  suffering  from 
wounds,  slept  on  their  arms.  Indeed,  during  those  seven 
days  of  retreat  sleep  was  snatched,  at  odd  times,  whenever 
the  column  halted,  and  often  the  exhausted  riders  yielded 
to  the  demands  of  nature  astride  their  horses  in  the  march 
ing  column. 

On  the  night  of  the  6th  the  position  at  Rice's  Station 
was  abandoned,  and  the  cavalry  under  Genl.  Fitz  Lee 
moved  in  the  rear  of  Longstreet  towards  Farmville,  having 
a  rear  guard  fight  with  the  enemy's  advance  in  the  streets 
of  that  town ;  the  effort  of  the  enemy  having  been  to  pre 
vent  Fitz  Lee  from  crossing  the  Appomattox.  Their  efforts 
were  so  far  successful,  that  Rosser  was  forced  to  move  up 
the  river  about  two  miles  before  he  could  cross,  while  Fitz 
Lee  with  the  remainder  of  his  force  crossed  the  bridge  of 
the  Cumberland  Court  House  Road. 

Having  gotten  successfully  over,  Rosser  moved  down  the 
river  to  effect  a  junction  with  Fitz  Lee.  Near  the  Cum 
berland  Plank  Road  he  found  the  enemy  about  to  assail  the 
division  under  General  Munford,  and  took  part  in  the  suc 
cessful  defense  made  by  Munford.  As  the  Federals  pressed 
on  the  Laurels,  now  under  White,  dashed  forward  and 
struck  the  enemy  in  flank. 


MAJ.    FOXHALL   A.   DANGERFIELD 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 


The  other  brigade  of  Rossers  division,  McCausland's, 
came  gallantly  on  and  joined  in  the  fight.  The  wooded 
and  broken  country  soon  made  the  engagement  a  desultory 
one,  in  which  detached  parties  and  squadrons  charged  and 
fought  with  mutual  loss.  The  Federals,  in  the  confident 
expectation  of  a  general  victory  near  at  hand,  exhibited 
unusual  spirit,  charging  boldly.  But  the  Confederates, 
though  depleted  in  numbers,  fought  with  the  energy  of 
despair. 

In  one  of  the  Federal  charges  Genl.  J.  Irvin  Gregg,  their 
gallant  leader,  was  unhorsed  and  captured  by  one  of  the 
Seventh  Virginia  Regiment. 

"The  march  of  the  cavalry,"  says  Genl.  Fitzhugh  Lee 
in  his  report,  "was  resumed  towards  Appomattox  Court 
House  in  rear  of  Longstreet's  corps,  and  continued  that 


Foxhall  A.  Dangerfield  was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia, 
at  "Westwood,"  February  8th,  1839.  He  was  descended  from  dis 
tinguished  colonial  ancestors,  his  father  and  mother  being  cousins,  were 
both  grandchildren  of  Richard  Parker,  Judge  of  the  General  Court  of 
the  Colony  of  Virginia,  and  later  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Appeals  of 
Virginia. 

He  was  the  youngest  son  of  eleven  children,  and  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Bath  county  at  an  early  age  ;  was  educated  in  most  part  at 
the  semi-military  school  of  George  P.  Terrill  and  at  Lewisburg  Acad 
emy,  studied  law  in  the  office  of  his  brother-in-law  in  California, 
from  which  State  he  returned  home  to  defend  his  native  State  in  the 
John  Brown  raid.  Later  he  studied  at  the  law  school — now  Washing 
ton  and  Lee  University. 

In  1861  the  law  class  disbanded,  and  after  taking  his  legal  examina 
tion  at  Staunton,  he  joined  the  cavalry  company  commanded  by  Capt. 
A.  T.  Richards  of  Bath  county,  and  in  1862,  at  the  reorganization, 
was  elected  captain  of  that  compatw,  which  was  soon  after  transferred 
to  Ashby's  command,  as  a  company  of  the  Seventeenth  Battalion,  which 
afterwards  was  merged  into  the  Eleventh  Virginia  Cavalry. 

Captain  Dangerfield  participated  in  all  the  engagements  of  his  regi 
ment  except  when  absent  from  wounds  or  imprisonments.  He  was 
wounded  at  Orange  Court  House  August  2nd.  r86-2,  receiving  a  severe 


380  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

order  of  march  throughout  the  8th,  followed  by  a  portion  of 
the  Federal  infantry.  Their  cavalry,  and  the  remainder  of 
their  infantry,  pursued  the  line  of  railroad  from  Farmville 
to  Appomattox  station. 

"During  the  evening  of  April  the  8th  I  received  orders 
to  move  the  cavalry  corps  to  the  front,  and  to  report  in  per 
son  to  the  commanding  general. 

"Upon  arriving  at  his  headquarters  I  found  General  Long- 
street  there,  and  we  were  soon  joined  by  General  Gordon. 
The  condition  of  our  situation  was  explained  by  the  com 
manding  general  to  us,  as  the  commanders  of  his  three 
corps,  and  the  correspondence  between  General  Grant  and 
himself,  as  far  as  it  had  then  progressed,  was  laid  before 
us.  It  was  decided  that  I  should  attack  the  enemy's  cavalry 
at  daylight."7 


sabre  wound  and  taken  prisoner  to  the  Old  Capitol,  Washington.  Being 
soon  exchanged,  and  before  his  wound  was  healed,  he  was  again  in 
command  of  his  company. 

In  the  twelve  days'  fighting  in  the  Wilderness  the  Bath  Squadron, 
commanded  by  him,  lost  heavily.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  Sapony 
Church. 

In  the  two  days'  fighting  at  Trevilians  his  squadron  was  actively 
engaged  and  lost  heavily.  He  was  shot  through  the  thigh  at  Amelia 
Springs,  and  fought  next  day  in  the  desperate  charge  at  High  Bridge. 

After  Appomattox  he  rode  home — 230  miles — notwithstanding  his 
painful  wound. 

After  the  retiring  of  Col.  O.  R.  Funsten,  by  seniority  M.  D.  Ball 
became  entitled  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  E.  H.  McDonald  of  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  Foxhall  A.  Dangerfield  of  major  of  the  Eleventh  Cavalry. 

He  was  known  throughout  the  brigade  as  a  brave  and  sagacious 
officer. 

Maj.  Holmes  Conrad  said  of  him,  "The  sum  of  his  virtues  and  graces 
is  just  that  he  wore  the  white  flower  of  a  blameless  life,  and  they  that 
knew  him  best  can  appreciate  the  fragrance  and  beauty  of  that  life 
in  all  its  symmetry  and  perfection. 

7Last  Official  Report  of  Genl.  Fitz  Lee,  War  Records,  Series  I,  Vol. 
XLVI,  page  1298. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  381 

At  daybreak  on  the  Qth  the  cavalry  corps,  about  2,400 
men,  took  position  on  the  right  of  Gordon's  infantry,  on  the 
Lynchburg  Road,  a  short  distance  west  of  Appornattox 
Court  House,  Rosser's  division  in  the  center. 

"The  attack  was  made  about  sunrise  and  the  enemy's 
cavalry  quickly  driven  out  of  the  way,  with  a  loss  of  two 
guns  and  a  number  of  prisoners."8 

Rosser's  division  participated  in  this  the  last  cavalry 
charge  of  the  wrar,  the  Laurel  Brigade  led  by  the  dauntless 
"Lige"  White, — and  when  the  Lynchburg  Road  was 
reached  wheeled  about  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the 
enemy  moving  towards  Appornattox. 

But  soon  in  the  distance  white  flags  were  seen,  and  from 
the  mingling  of  the  blue  and  grey  which  followed,  it  became 
evident  that  all  was  over. 

Rosser  now  rode  off  with  his  command  to  Lynchburg. 
The  Laurel  Brigade — the  remnant  of  it, — upon  reaching 
Lynchburg  was  disbanded  by  Colonel  White,  who  informed 
the  men  that  Lee  had  surrendered,  and  that  the  men  of  the 
Laurel  Brigade  were  at  liberty  either  to  accept  the  terms  of 
surrender  or  to  make  an  effort  to  join  the  army  of  Joseph 
E.  Johnston;  as  to  which,  each  man  would  have  to  decide 
for  himself. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  Twelfth  Regiment  under  com 
mand  of  Lieut.  Wm.  F.  Anderson  of  Company  G,  which 
had  participated  in  the  last  charge,  did  not  escape  with  the 
brigade  towards  Lynchburg,  but  surrendered  at  Appornat 
tox,  according  to  the  special  terms  agreed  upon  by  Generals 
Lee  and  Grant,  for  the  cavalry  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia. 


8Lee's  Report. 


APPENDIX 


MUSTER  ROLL  OF  SEVENTH  VIRGINIA  CAVALRY 

(LAUREL  BRIGADE),  ARMY  OF 

NORTHERN  VIRGINIA. 


COMPANY  A. 
(Furnished  by  Joshua  C.  Fletcher.'} 

Ashby,   Turner,   captain,   and  afterwards  colonel  of   Seventh 

Virginia,  and  later  brigadier-general,  killed  near  Har- 

risonburg,  June  6th;  1862. 
Ashby,  Richard,  later  captain,  succeeding  his  brother  Turner, 

was  killed  or  rather  wounded  at  Kelley's  Island  in  1861, 

and  died  of  his  wounds  soon  after  at  the  house  of  Mr, 

Washington. 
Ashby,  Vernon,  dead. 
Ashby,  Luther  R.,  third  lieutenant,  dead. 
Athey,  W.  Scott  (was  Baptist  preacher),  dead. 
Anderson,  Edward,  died  since  the  war. 
Barnes,  Jacob  S.,  living  in  Baltimore,  Md. 
Blackmore,  Robert,  died  since  the  war. 
Burns,  Milton,  living  in  Fairfax  county. 
Brent,  Warren,  killed  at  Upperville,  June  27th,  1863. 
Brent,  William,  wounded  at  Buckton  in   1862;  died  October 

3rd,   1904. 
Brent,  Hugh,  wounded  at  Buckton  in  1863  through  the  neck; 

living  in  Baltimore,  Md. 

Brent,  James  A.,  transferred  to  Wicher's  Battalion. 
Bruce,  Charles,  killed  at  Sapony  Church  in  i8C3,  Wilson's  raid. 
Buckner,  Dick,  living  near  Delaplane,  Va. 
Cochran,  T.  B.,  died  since  the  war. 
Crane,  Major,  died  since  the  war. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  383 

Cornwall,  Silas,  died  1862,  typhoid  fever. 

Carter,  George,  died  since  the  war. 

Carter,  Pitman,  killed  in  the  Wilderness  in  1864. 

Clem,  A.  W.,  blacksmith,  dead. 

Chancellor,  George,  living  in  Fauquier,  near  Delaplane. 

Diffendaffer,  George,  lost  sight  of. 

Donnelley,  John  B.,  died  since  the  war  in  Washington,  D.  C. 

Dean,  Thomas,  drowned  in  Missouri  after  the  war. 

Darnell,  J.  B.,  living  at  Waynesboro,  Va. 

Dawson,  Nicholas,  living  in  Baltimore,  Md. 

Engle,  Bub,  Upperville,  Va.,  still  living. 

Eastham,  Henry,  lost  sight  of;  dead. 

Eskridge,  H.  R.,  Millbrook,  W.  Va. 

Flynn,  John,  died  since  the  war. 

Fletcher,  John,  captain,  was  killed  at  Buckton  in  1862. 

Fletcher,  Joshua  C.,  second  sergeant,  badly  hurt  in  a  charge  in 
November,  1864;  living  at  Bloomfield,  Va. 

Fletcher,  Clinton,  killed  at  Greenland  Gap,  West  Virginia  raid. 

Foster,  William,  still  living ;  was  a  captain  in  Mosby's  Bat 
talion  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

Francis,  George  W.,  living  in  Moundsville,  \V.  Va. 

Foley,  Oswald,  killed  at  Kelley's  Island  in  1861. 

Geiman,  Jesse  C.,  orderly  sergeant,  living  in  Bloomfield,  Va. 

Gibson,  Gurley,  living  in  Alabama. 

Glasscock,  Robert,  died  since  the  war. 

Grigsby,  Bushrod,  died  since  the  war. 

Glasscock,  Samuel,  died  since  the  war. 

Glasscock,  Alfred,  third  lieutenant,  died  since  the  war. 

Glasscock,  Thomas,  living  at  Paris,  Va. 

Garrison,  Bushrod,  lost  a  foot  in  a  threshing  machine  and  died 
since  the  war. 

Garrison,  Tip,  died  since  the  war ;  was  wounded  at  Kelley's 
Island. 

Grigsby,  Nat.,  wounded  at  Upperville,  Ya..  June  2/th,  1863, 
and  died. 

Gilmore,  Howard,  lost  sight  of  as  joined  other  commands. 


384  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Gilmore,  Harry,  afterwards  captain  of  a  partizan  company  of 

Maryland. 
Gilmore,  Dick,  lost  sight  of  as  joined  other  commands.     In 

Soldiers'  Home,  Pikesville,  Md. 
Holmes,  Charles,  killed  at  Greenland  Gap,  W.  Va. ;  prisoner, 

recaptured;  died. 
Hitt,  James  W.,  blacksmith  for  the  company,  lost  sight  of; 

dead. 

Harman,  Dr.  J.  D.,  died  since  the  war  at  Hamilton,  Va. 
Harrison,  Daniel  B.,  dead ;  wounded  several  times. 
Hawks,  from  Texas,  killed  accidentally. 
Hathaway,  C.  H.,  died  during  the  war. 
Homer,  Dick,  dead. 

Hoffman,  Wesley,  died  since  the  war  at  Linden,  Va. 
Hughs,  Charles,  lost  sight  of. 
Hackley,  James,  lost  sight  of. 
Hatcher,  D.  C.,  captain,  living  at  Rectortown,  Va. 
Hatcher,  Harry,  sergeant-major,  died  since  the  war. 
Hatcher,  William,  dead. 
Hawbaw,  George,  living. 
Hefflin,  John,  lost  sight  of. 
Herndon,  John,  living  at  Hamilton,  Va. 
Hoffman,  Wesley,  died  since  the  war  at  Linden,  Va. 
Jacobs,  L.  T.,  living  at  Hamilton,  Va. 
Jones,  Scott,  killed  at  Bolivar  Heights  in  1861. 
Jones,  Henry,  living. 
Jones,  Philip,  living. 
Jeffries,  James  A.,  living. 
Keys,  wounded  at  Buckton  in  1862. 
Kirkpatrick,  W.  S.,  lost  record  of. 
Kincheloe,  John  W.,  living  at  Rectortown,  Va. 
Kincheloe,  Elisha,  no  record. 
Kidwell,  Evan,  died  since  the  war. 

Ladd,  John  A.,  wounded  at  Kelley's  Island ;  lost  sight  of. 
Leslie,  Thomas,  died  since  the  war. 
Long,  Pendleton,  died  since  the  war. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  385 

Lawler,  Robert,  died  since  the  war. 

Lake,  F.  Marion,  living  in  Missouri. 

Lake,  Bladen,  died  with  typhoid  fever  in  1862. 

Lake,  Luther,  transferred  to  Eighth  Virginia  Infantry. 

Larkin,  Richard,  living  in  Prince  William. 

Marlow,  Richard,  lost  sight  of. 

Marlow,  John,  transferred  to  White's  Thirty-fifth  Battalion. 

Massey,  Ed\vard,  living  in  Texas. 

McClenigan,  S.  E.}  died  since  the  war. 

Marshall,  R.  C.,  wounded  at  Trevilians  depot. 

McArthur,  Hickerson,  living  in  Texas ;  wounded  at  Kelley's 

Island. 
Marshall,  Tom,  joined  the  Twelfth  Regiment;  transferred  to 

Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry. 
Marshall,  Polk,  joined  the  Twelfth  Regiment;  transferred  to 

Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry. 
Marshall,  James,  lost  sight  of. 
Martin,  Gibson,  died  since  the  war. 
Martin,  Thomas,  died  in  1862. 
Middleton,  John,  died  since  the  war. 
Middleton,  Campbell,  living  at  The  Plains,  Va. 
Mitler,  Proff,  lost  sight  of. 
Mitchell,  James,  killed  in  the  Wilderness. 
Mitchell,  John  H.,  died  in  1902. 
Maddox,  Webster,  died  in  1905. 
Maddox,  Weadon,  killed  at  Salem   (now  Marshall). 
Owens,  Cuthbert,  died  since  the  war. 
O'Forton,  Dr.,  killed  at  Kelley's  Island. 
Price,  John  H.,  Hillsboro,  Va. ;  dead. 
Price,  James  Polk,  died  since  the  war. 
Potterneld,  Thomas  L.,  orderly  sergeant,  lives  at  Lovettsville, 

Va. 
Potterfield,  W.  H.  T.,  killed  near  Brandy  Station,  Va. 


386  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

KNOWN  AS  THE  PAYNE  LEGION. 
Payne,  Thomas  H.,   orderly  sergeant,   died   in   prison    (Point 

Lookout). 

Payne,  Richard,  living  near  Orleans,  Fauquier  county,  Va. 
Payne,  Robert  J.,  killed  at  Fredericksburg  in  1863. 
Payne,  Wallace  J.,  killed  at  Fredericksburg  in  1863. 
Payne,  Robert  B.,  killed  at  Fredericksburg. 
Payne,  Edward,  killed  in  the  Wilderness  near  Parkers'  Store. 
Payne,  Wilson,  killed  at  Hawe's  Shop. 
Payne,  Lafayette,  living  at  Orleans,  Va. 
Payne,  John  T.,  killed  at  Beverly,  W.  Va. 
Payne,  Upton,  living  at  Orleans. 
Payne,  Mason,  living  at  Orleans. 
Payne,  Rice,  living  at  Orleans. 

Peyton,  Robert  E.,  living  near  The  Plains. 

Pendleton,  David,  captured  at  Reams  Station  and  lost  sight  of. 

Phillips,  Evan,  living  in  Fairfax  county,  Va. 

Phillips,  Charles,  lost  sight  of. 

Phillips,  John  E.,  lost  sight  of. 

Packard,  William,  died  since  the  war.  In  Point  Lookout 
Prison  in  1864. 

Reed,  Joseph  H.,  died  since  the  war  at  Luray,  Va. 

Rector,  William  F.,  dead. 

Rector,  Howard,  died  since  the  war. 

Rector,  Abner,  living  near  Rectortown,  Va. 

Rector,  Columbus,  living  near  The  Plains,  Va. 

Rector,  Asa,  living  near  Rectortown,  Va. 

Rust,  H.  Clay,  transferred  to  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry  ;  killed. 

Rust,  John  R.,  living  near  Nineveh,  Va.  Afterwards  first  lieu 
tenant  of  Company  I,  Twelfth  Virginia  Cavalry. 

Robinson,  (Bear),  lost  sight  of;  wounded  at.  Brandy  Station 
in  1863. 

Rogers,  William  (wagoner),  died  during  the  war. 

Scanlon,  Bade,  lost  sight  of. 

Skinner,  William  Jeff,  died  in  1901. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  387 

Skinner,  Charles,  living  at  Rectortown,  Va. ;  badly  wounded  at 

Buckton. 

Stewart,  John  W.,  living-  in  Iowa. 
Sutton,  James,  died  since  the  war. 
Silcott,  Landon,  died  since  the  war. 
Selix,  Tom,  killed  at  Stevensburg  in  1863. 
Smith,  Golden  H.,  died  since  the  war. 
Smith,  Seldon,  living  in  Baltimore. 
Smith,  Horace,  living  near  Rectortown,  Va. 
Smith,  O'Connell,  died  during  the  war. 
Smith,  Granville,  first  lieutenant,  killed  on  the  Cattle  raid. 
Smith,  Sullivan,  second  lieutenant,  died  since  the  war. 
Settle,  Dr.  T.  L.,  Paris,  Va. 
Strother,  Lewis,  Paris,  Va. 
Smith,  Thomas,  lost  sight  of. 
Strother,  John  W.,  Paris,  Va. 
Taylor,  Rufus,  living  near  Rectortown,  Va. 
Templeman,  James,  living  near  Markham,  Va. 
Triplett,  Leonidas,  living  at  Mt.  Jackson,  Va. 
Templeman,  Robert,  living  at  Orleans,  Va. 
Templeman,  Dr.  James,  died  in  Baltimore  since  the  war. 
Turner,  William  F.,  captain,  died  since  the  war. 
Turner,  Thomas,  killed  at  Ashland  in   1864. 
'1  urner,  Hezekiah,  died  since  the  war. 
Tibbetts,  Albert,  killed  in  1864  near  Edenburg,  Va. 
Utz,  J.  J.,  wounded  at  Orange  Court  House. 
Violet,  Elizah,  killed  at  Reams  Station  in  1863. 
Wigfield,  William,  living. 
Wigfield,  James,  living. 
Wiggonton,  Isaac,  living. 

Welsh,  F.  R.,  third  sergeant,  living  at  The  Plains. 
Welsh,  Silvester  M.,  living  in  King  George  county,  Va. 
Welsh,  S.  M.,  wounded  and  captured  at  Boonesville,  Md. 
Wigginton,  James,  lost  sight  of. 
Wilson,  William,  lost  sight  of. 
Wigginton,  Isaac,  lost  sight  of. 


388  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

At  the  close  of  the  war  there  were  the  following  officers : 

Capt.  Dan  Hatcher,  of  Rectortown,  Va. 

First  Lieut.  Sullivan  Smith,  dead. 

Second  Lieut.  Luther  Ashby,  Staunton,  Va. 

Orderly  Sergt.  T.  L.  Potterfield,  Lovettsville,  Va. 

Second  Sergt.  J.  C.  Fletcher,  Belmont,  Va. 

Corp.  Wallace  Payne,  Fauquier  county,  Va. 

Second  Corp.  J.  W.  Middleton,  dead. 

COMPANY  B. 

(Furnished  by  Cyrus  Fitzer  of  Maurertown,  Va.} 
OFFICERS. 

First  Capt.  John  Q.  Winfield,  dead. 

Second  Capt.  J.  H.  Magruder,  killed  in  Madison  county,  Va. 
Third  Capt.  D.  Humphreys. 

Lieut.  J.  N.  Liggett,  living  in  Harrisonburg,  Va. 
First  Lieut.  S.  B.  Jordon,  wounded  May  28th,  1864;  dead. 
First  Lieut.  J.  S.  Pennybacker,  dead. 
Lieut.  P.  P.  Kenon,  dead. 

Second  Lieut.  Jacob  Acker,  wounded  August  25th,  1864;  dead. 
First  Sergt.  Erasmus   Neff,   dead. 

First  Sergt.  Henry  Mason,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 
Second  Sergt.  Joe  N.  Riddle,  living  in  Broadway,  Va. 
Second  Sergt.  S.  F.  Mullen. 
Third  Sergt.  Phineas  Stickley,  dead. 

Third  Sergt.  T.  W.  Funk,  living  in  Rockingham  County,  Va. 
Fourth  Sergt.  Aaron  Fitzwaters. 
Fourth  Sergt.  Joe  Showalter,  dead. 
Fifth  Sergt.  John  W.  Moore,  living  in  Broadway,  Va. 
First  Corp.  D.  D.  Pennybacker,  living  in  Broadway,  Va. 
First  Corp.  William  F.  Bowers,  living  in  Rockingham  county, 
Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  389 

Second  Corp.  Isaac  Richie,  killed  May  28th,  1864. 
Fourth  Corp,  Henry  Zirkle,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 
Second  Corp.  Edmund  Taylor,  living  in  Rockingham  county, 
Va. 

PRIVATES. 

Acker,  Peter,  living  in  Indiana. 

Acker,  Isaac,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Ashby,  Richard,  taken  prisoner  March,  1862;  living. 

Alger,  Harry,  living. 

Bowman,  George,  killed. 

Bowman,  Michael,  living  in  Madison  county,  Va. 

Barglebaugh,  John  M.,  dead. 

Baker,  Daniel. 

Burkholder,  George  E. 

Bull,  A.  V.,  killed  in  1864  near  Turleytown. 

Beam,  John,  wounded  at  Mechanicsburg,  February,  1864. 

Byrd,  Jerry. 

Barks,  David,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Bush,  Henry,  dead. 

Baxter,  Jacob  T.,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Burns,  Jacob,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Barbe,  Daniel. 

Barbe,  Simon. 

Barbe,  Noah. 

Black,  Richard,  dead. 

Brock,  William,  dead. 

Brock,  Godfrey,  dead. 

Beam,  Jacob,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Cowell,  A.  J.,  living. 

Carpenter,   N.  H. 

Custer,  Isaac,  dead. 

Cromer,  David  R.,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Coffelt,  J.  D.,  lost  a  leg  in  the  battle  of  Buckton  Station. 

Carpenter,  John. 


390  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Coffman,  George  C.,  wounded  May  28th,  1864. 

Devier,  Giles,  living  in  Harrisonburg,  Va. 

Devier,  H.  K.,  dead. 

Dyer,  A.  W.,  dead. 

Duff,  W.  J.,  taken  prisoner  and  took  oath. 

Emswiler,   Samuel,   taken  prisoner  July  7th,    1863;   living  in 

Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Emswiler,  W.  P.,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 
Emswiler,  J.  P.,  dead. 
Emswiler,  Noah,  killed  near  Port  Republic. 
Fulk,  John  G.,  killed ;  no  better  soldier  in  the  army. 
Fulk,  George  C. 
Fulk,  John  G. 
Fulk,  Harry. 
Fulk,  William. 

Fetzer,  Cyrus,  living  in  Shenandoah  county,  Va. 
Funk,  Milton  E.,  dead. 

Funk,  Hopkins  R.,  living  in  Shenandoah  county,  Va. 
Funk,  James,  living  in  Texas. 
Funk,  William,  dead. 
Frank,  Samuel,  dead. 
Funk,  A.  D.,  wounded  May,  1864. 
Good,  Jacob,  living  in  Texas. 
Grabill,  Cornelius,  dead. 
Grabill,  Charles,  dead. 
Grabill,  R.  C,  dead. 
Hollar,  Samuel  B.,  living  in  Texas. 
Hulvey,  Peter,  dead. 
Haisley,  W.  T. 
Horn,  Alrazi,  dead. 
Harris,  John  H.,  dead. 
Hupp,  Charles  T.,  dead. 
Hulvey,  Jonathan,  dead. 
Hall,  Rasin. 
Jones,  Israel,  taken  prisoner  December  iith,  1862,  near  Darks- 

ville,  Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LATRKL  BRIGADE  391 

Jones,  Evan,  living-  in  Rockingtiam  county,  Va. 

Keyes,  Erasmus  L. 

Lindamood,  Sylvanus,  dead. 

Lindamood,  James,  dead. 

Leacy,  John,  dead. 

Miller,  Isaac. 

Morris.  Alfred,  taken  prisoner  July.  1863;  living. 

Miller,  John,  dead. 

Miller,  William,  dead. 

Minnick,  William,  living  in   Broadway,  Va. 

Minnick,  Levi,  dead. 

Messick,  William. 

Mason,  Henry,  living  in  Rockingham  county.  Va. 

Magruder,  John  H. 

May,  George,  honorably  discharged  October  8th,    1863. 

Muller,  George. 

Muller,   Emanuel. 

Muller,  S.  F. 

Moore,  George,  killed. 

Moore,  Samuel,  living  in   Rockingham  county.  Va. 

Neff,  John  H.,  dead. 

Neff,  Michael,  living. 

Newham,  William  P. 

Penny  backer,  John  S.,  dead. 

Phillips,  John,  dead. 

Pennybacker,  Isaac,  living. 

Penny  backer,  B.  R. 

Pennybacker,  John,  dead. 

Richey,  Isaac,  dead. 

Richey,  Frank  J.,  living. 

Rader,  Peter,  living  in  Broadway.  Va. 

Rader,  George,  dead. 

Rader,  Jacob  L.,  dead. 

Rader,  C.  S.,  living. 

Rader,  George  C. 

Reedv,  Isaac. 


392  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Ritchie,  Solomon,  living. 

Sprinkle,  William  F.,  living. 

Shoup,  John  C,  killed  near  Woodstock,  Va. 

Shoup,  Jacob  G.,  killed  at  Gettysburg. 

Swanson,  William. 

Scott,  J.  T.,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Stickley,  Dan. 

Showalter,  Michael. 

Showalter,  Abraham,  taken  prisoner  December  nth,  1862. 

Simmers,  John,  dead. 

Silvius,  Uriah,  dead. 

Turner,  Jacob. 

Turner,  Moses,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Trumbo,  Benjamin,  dead. 

Thomas,  John,  dead. 

Wean,  E.  J.,  dead. 

Wean,  Noah. 

West,  John,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Will,  C.  B.,  dead. 

Wood,  George  M.,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Wean,  Abram,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Wean,  Jacob,  living  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 

Zirkle,  David  P.,  living  in  Shenandoah  county,  Va. 

COMPANY  C. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  Samuel  B.   Myers,  wounded  at  Orange  Court  House; 

promoted  major  in  1863. 
Capt.  J.  E.  Myers,  killed  May  7th,  1864. 
First  Lieut.  Philip  Bowers. 

First  Lieut.  George  Murphy,  promoted  afterwards. 
Second  Lieut.  R.  Rosenberger,  killed. 
Second  Lieut.  R.  M.  Lantz,  wounded. 
Second  Lieut.  J.  E.  Allen. 
Third  Lieut.  S.  G.  Clark,  wounded. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  393 

Third  Lieut.  J.  R.  Miley. 
Corp.  John  Myers. 
Corp.  Whiten  Bowman. 
Corp.  John  Dirting. 
Corp.  Ananias  Sheetz. 
Sergt.  D.  C.  Clinedinst. 
Sergt.  Fadely  Lorenzo. 
Sergt.  C.  Rosenberger. 
Sergt.  G.  C.  Rinehart. 

PRIVATES. 

Allison,  William. 

Artz,  Peter. 

Bradford,  William,  Q.  M.,  wounded. 

Bird,  Hite. 

Bowman,  Calvin. 

Brenner,  Casper. 

Burke,  John  T. 

Bowers,  Ezra. 

Baker,  James. 

Bowman,  Daniel. 

Bishop,  Thomas. 

Bishop  Charles. 

Bird,  Samuel. 

Bowers,  Harvey. 

Burke,  John. 

Bowman,  L.  B.,  wounded. 

Bowers,  Johnson,  killed. 

Bowers,  Jacob. 

Bretts,  Joseph. 

Cheek,  Joseph. 

Clinedinst,  Isaac. 

Clinedinst,  Augustine. 

Clinedinst,  William. 

Clinedinst,  A.  B.,  wounded. 

Coffman,  Addison. 


394  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Clark,  E.,  wounded. 

Coffman,  A.,  wounded. 

Crabill,  J.,  killed. 

Conn,  W. 

Cook,  H. 

Coffman,  B. 

Chilcott,  Jonathan. 

Coffelt,  Joseph. 

Coffelt,  Ananias. 

Carper,  William,  wounded. 

Coffman,  E.,  wounded. 

Dudley,  William. 

Day,  Robert. 

Day,  James,  wounded. 

Dellinger.  Amos. 

Bellinger,  James,  killed. 

Dellinger,  R. 

Dellinger,  Emmanuel,  killed. 

Dirting,  P.  J.,  wounded. 

Day,  John,  wounded. 

Estep,  Jack. 

Estep,  Robert. 

Emswiller,  Lemuel. 

Evans,  A.  J. 

Evans,  Samuel. 

Fry,  R.,  wounded. 

Fry,  James. 

Fadely,  William. 

Foster,  James  T. 

Font,  Enoch. 

Fravel,  F.  M. 

Fry,  Israel. 

Fravel,  William. 

Farrow,  William,  killed. 

Fleming,  Harvey. 

Fadely,  Eli. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  395 


Fadely,  Joseph. 

Fogle,  Harvey. 

Fry,  Joseph. 

GranstafT,  Lem. 

Gaw,  Robert. 

Griffith,  John,  killed. 

Grove,  William,  wounded. 

Grechnour,  David. 

Grimm,  Franklin. 

Hanson,  Aquilla,  wounded. 

Hollar,  Samuel. 

Hollar,  Reuben. 

Hollar,  Mahlon. 

Hollar,  John,  wounded. 

Hollar,  William,  wounded. 

Hallar,  Robert,  wounded. 

Holtzman,  Beverly. 

Hottel,  D.  J. 

Hottel,  Isaac. 

Helsley,  Washington. 

Hanson,  William. 

Kerns,  Isaac. 

Kees,  Alfred. 

Kagey,  John. 

Long,  Eli. 

Lindamood,  George. 

Lutz,  William. 

Lantz,  George. 

Larkins,  William. 

Litten,  Eli. 

Litten,  Ben. 

Lewland,  Lemuel. 

Magruder,  John. 

Olinger,  William. 

Pain,  J.  O. 

Pullin,  Andrew. 


396  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Patton,  John. 
Patton,  George. 
Palmer,  J. 

Racey,  Mat.,  wounded. 
Reed,  John. 

Riddlemoser,  D.,  killed. 
Ross,  D. 
Racey,  Luke. 
Ran,  Ansben. 
Russell,  T. 
Russell,  M. 
Ran,  James. 
Ran,  John. 
Ran,  David. 
Ruby,  David. 
Ross,  S. 
Strickler,  Abe. 
Shadwell,  H.,  killed. 
Shorts,  Frederick. 
Sheets,  Isaac,  wounded. 
Sheets,  Elias,  wounded. 
Stoneburner,  William. 
Varner,  John. 
Watson,  John. 

COMPANY  E. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  Thomas  H.  Buck. 

First  Lieut.  Samuel  J.  Simpson. 

Second  Lieut.  W.  H.  Willis. 

Third  Lieut.  Walter  Buck. 

First  Sergt.  Edwin  G.  Buck,  served  during  the  entire  war. 

Second  Sergt.  D.  M.  Cloud. 

Third  Sergt.  W.  M.  Cloud. 

Fourth  Sergt.  J.  R.  Jenkins. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  397 

First  Corp.  Henry  Heater. 
Second  Corp.  W.  D.  Little. 
Third  Corp.  T.  M.  Ray 
Fourth  Corp.  A.  A.  McKay. 

PRIVATES. 
Adams,  A. 
Ash,  J.  H. 
Bayly,  R.  B. 
Beaby,  I.  L. 
Beren,  William. 
Boone,  J.  W. 
Brown,  J.  M. 
Brown,  J.  W. 
Brown,  J.  H. 
Bowling,  W.  A. 
Buck,  C.  N. 
Buck,  W.  A. 
Buck,  John  N. 

Buck,  T.  W.,  killed  at  Cedar  Creek,  Nov.  1863. 
Churchill,  W.  A. 
Clapsaddle,  Byrd. 
Clapsaddle,  M.  A. 
Cline,  H.  C. 
Cline,  W.  R. 
Cook,  Giles. 
Cook,  Wythe. 
Cook,  Scott. 
Doran,  B. 
Eastham,  Philip. 
Foster,  J.  L. 
Foster,  G.  A. 
Garrison,  M.  L. 
Grubbs,  Nathan. 
Green,  F.  W. 
Heater,  John. 


398  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Henry,  Hugh. 
Henry,  Charles. 
Houser,  W.  F.  N. 
Helm,  Robert. 
Invin,  Marcus. 
Jackson,  William. 
Johnson,  John  I. 
Kendrick,  J.  W. 
Lacy,  Henry. 
Lacy,  J.  R. 
Mitchell,  Shipp. 
Naid,  George. 
Xeville,  P.  G. 
Neville,  J.  D. 
Oliver,  J.  W. 
Orndoff,  O. 
Parkins,  A.  D. 
Putnam,  J.  K.  P. 
Richardson,  Marcus. 
Robinson,  William. 
Richardson,  C.  M. 
Rogers,  W.  A. 
Royston,  T. 
Spicer,  B.  B. 
Steed,  F. 
Steed,  W.  T. 
Vaughan,  George. 
Wines,  Burwell. 
Brown,  Edward. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  399 

COMPANY  F.* 

(As  published  in  the  Moorefield  Weekly  Examiner  of  Decem 
ber  i^th,  1904.) 


OFFICERS. 

Capt.  George  F.  Sheetz. 

First  Lieut.  Angus  W.  McDonald. 

Second  Lieut.  George  H.  Baker,  dead  ;  succeeded  by  Charle 

H.  Vandiver,''  who  lost  an  arm  near  Reams  Station. 
First  Sergt.  John  C.  Leps,  killed. 
Second  Sergt.  John  Johnson,  wounded. 
Third  Sergt.  Anthony  Cain,  dead. 
Fourth  Sergt.  James  T.  Parker. 
Fifth  Sergt.  Charles  W.  Smoot. 
First  Corp.  Charles  H.  Vandiver. 
Second  Corp.  J.  A.  Parrill. 
Third  Corp.  C.  H.  Sisk. 
Fourth  Corp.  James  Pollick. 

PRIVATES. 
Allen,  Hiram. 

Alexander,  Eugene,  transferred  to  artillery  in   1862. 
Allen,  Elijah,  died  in  hospital. 
Arnold,  John  S.,  dead. 


*Lieut.-Col.  Thomas  Marshall,  in  his  official  report  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment  in  the  Gettysburg  campaign  (Records  of  the  War  of  the  Re 
bellion,  Series  I,  Vol.  XXII,  Part  II),  says:  "In  respect  to  the  conduct 
upon  the  field  of  the  officers  of  this  regiment,  as  far  as  my  observation 
has  extended,  it  has  been  active,  zealous  and  gallant.  If  I  may  be 
allowed  to  mention  the  case  of  a  single  one  as  peculiarly  marked,  it 
would  be  that  of  Lieut.  C.  H.  Vandiver,  who  on  every  occasion  is  among 
the  foremost,  and  who,  at  the  Fairfield  fight,  with  his  double-barreled 
shotgun  whipped  in  a  single  combat  three  of  the  foe,  shooting  one, 
capturing  a  second  and  putting  the  third  to  flight." 

tHe  was  one  of  the  party  who  captured  Generals  Crook  and  Kelly  in 
Cumberland,  Md. 


400  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Bane,  James  A.,  wounded  in  Hampton  Cattle  raid  in   1864; 

dead. 

Bonney,  James. 
Baker,  Jacob  A. 
Baker,  Henry,  died  in  1864. 
Baker,  John  W.,  died  in  1864. 
Berry,  Samuel,  dead. 
Baker,  Levi. 

Bowers,  M.  B.  Y.,  dead. 
Bower,  Page. 
Bowers,  Charles  I.,  dead. 
Berry,  Samuel. 
Chancy,  Thomas. 

Cupp,  Jesse,  wounded  at  Strasburg. 
Carroll,  Zedekiah. 

Cunningham,  James  H.,  afterwards  second  sergeant;  dead. 
Cunningham,   George  F. 
Cunningham,  James  W. 
Cayner,  William. 
Clark,  William  F. 
Cahill,  Joseph. 

Cahil,  William  H.,  wounded  in  1863. 
Davis,  Reuben  S. 
Davis,  Samuel  R. 

Davis,  Charles,  killed  at  Rudes  Hill. 
Davis,  Leslie. 
Dawson,  Dory  W. 
Douphit,  John,  died  in  1861. 
Dignan,  Patrick. 
Everitt,  George  W. 

Engle,  Samuel  C,  killed  at  Brandy  Station  in  1863. 
Edwards,  Robert,  wounded. 
Ervin,  W.  D.,  dead. 
Fay,  John    B.,   Washington,   D.  C. ;   planned   the   capture   of 

Generals  Crook  and  Kelly,  and  directed  and  helped  in 

the  execution  of  the  raid. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  401 

Fox,  David. 

Gassman,  Jacob,  wounded  in   1863;  led  the  way  to  General 

Crooks'  room  in  the  Revere  House,  Cumberland. 
Gill,  James. 

Goldsborough,  Thomas,  died  in  prison  in  1863. 
Gates,  Charles. 
Grayson,  William. 
Grim,  M.  V. 

High,  Samuel,  murdered  in  1861. 
High,  Frederick,  murdered  in  1862. 
Heironimus,  Jacob. 
Harness,  Adam  C,  dead. 

Houseworth,  William  W.,  afterwards  with  Third  Corps. 
Harman,  Joseph. 

Harmison,  M.  G.,  killed  at  Orange  Court  House. 
Harrison,  Isaac  E. 
Hollenback,  Thomas. 
Hutton,  J.  S.,  dead. 
Harrison,  William  B. 
Heitt,  James,  dead. 
Healy,  Thomas,  dead. 
Healy,  Maurice. 
Harrison,  Thomas. 
Harlan,  Scott,  wounded  in  1863. 
Hopewell,  John. 

Heltzel,  Samuel  J.,  wounded  in  1863;  dead. 
Harness,  W.  W. 

Inskeep,  W.  V.,  died  from  wounds. 
Inskeep,  James,  died  in  1862. 
Inskeep,  John  W. 
Irvin,  Elias  L. 
Johnson,  Isaac,  died  in  1862. 
Johnson,  Robert. 
Jones,  David. 
Johnson,  George  H. 
Kuykendall,  Isaac,  promoted  to  captaincy  in  1863. 


4O2  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Kuykendall,  J.  W.,  dead. 

Kelley,  J.  T.,  dead. 

Kelley,  Patrick,  wounded  near  Berryville;  dead. 

Kackley,  Joseph. 

Kackley,  George. 

Lamar,  William. 

Liller,  Isaac. 

Leise,  John  W. 

Leise,  George. 

Leise,  James. 

Liggett,  Calvin. 

Lovett,  Mortimer  M.,  wounded  at  Orange  Court  House. 

Lyons,  William. 

Leps,  William. 

Moore,  Joseph. 

McBlain,  Duncan. 

McKee,  Smith  F. 

Maslin,  James. 

Maslin,  W.  H.,  dead. 

Marts,  Michael. 

Me  Cord,  Thomas. 

Mclnturff  -       — . 

Mathias,  G.  W.,  afterwards  fifth  sergeant. 

Millison,  B.  F. 

McCauley,  B.  F. 

McAloy,  Warren. 

Miller,  H.  C. 

Myers,  Samuel. 

Neal,  Thomas. 

Offutt,  Jonathan. 

O'Brian,  James. 

Parsons,  William  L. 

Pugh,  John  W.,  died  in  prison. 

Pugh,  John,  died  at  Camp  Chase. 

Pugh,  James. 

Parrill,  James  R. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  403 

Pan-ill,  William  H. 

Parrill,  John  C. 

Powers,  Daniel. 

Pollock,  James. 

Parran,  John. 

Pierce,  J.  T.,  dead. 

Price,  Richard  C. 

Pancake,  Silas. 

Rine,  John  J.,  wounded  at  Upperville  in  1863. 

Rinehart,  Chandler  H. 

Rine,  James  H. 

Rollings,  Sanford. 

Seymour,  M. 

Shriver,  Anthony. 

Shriver,  Henry. 

Shriver,  John. 

Skelton,  W.  M. 

Shillenburg,  Amos. 

Stover,  John. 

Shaw,  John. 

Smith,  William. 

Smith,  Isaac. 

Short,  James. 

Shoemaker,  G.  W. 

Sherrard,  Robert. 

Sisk,  C.  H.,  dead. 

Taylor,  James  H.,  wounded  at  Culpeper  Court  House. 

Taylor,  Rufus. 

Tilden,  Robert  J.,  wounded  at  Romney  in  1861. 

Taylor,  John  W.,  wounded  at  Hampton  Cattle  raid  in  1864. 

Taylor,  James,  wounded  at  Culpeper  Court  House. 

Tremon,  Eurbrige. 

Throckmartin,  W.  W. 

Ulum,  John. 

Vanmeter,  Charles  W. 

Vanmeter,  R.  B. 


404  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Van  Meter,  David  P. 

Van  Meter,  Isaac. 

Van  Meter,  Milton,  killed  on  September  i/th  in  Hampton 
Cattle  raid. 

Van  Meter,  Edwin. 

Van  Meter,  David  G.,  wounded  at  Fairfield,  Pa.,  in  1863. 

Vance,  James. 

Vest,  A.  J. 

Vest,  Charles  F. 

Van  Horn,  John  M. 

Williams,  J.  V. 

Warden,  Jacob,  promoted  to  captaincy  and  sent  to  Twenty- 
third  Virginia  Cavalry. 

Warden,  William,  died  in  1863. 

Warden,  James. 

Welch,  Robert,  dead. 

Welch,  Lewis,  F.  C.  W.,  dead. 

Wright,  M.  F.,  surgeon,  dead. 

Welton,  Aaron. 

Welton,  James. 

Wood,  James. 

Zell,  James  A. 

Zell,  Robert. 

REORGANIZATION  IN  APRIL,  1862,  AT  SPINDLES  STORE,  LONY 
CREEK,  PAGE  COUNTY,  VA. 

Capt.  George  F.  Sheets,  killed  at  Buckton  Station  in  1862. 

First  Lieut.  George  H.  Baker,  asked  to  resign. 

Second  Lieut.   Isaac  Kuykendall,   made   captain   at  battle  of 

Cedar  Mountain. 

Third  Lieut.  James  T.  Parker,  made  first  lieutenant. 
First  Sergt.  Adam  C.  Harness. 
Second  Sergt.  Charles  H.   Vandiver,   who  lost  an  arm  near 

Reams  Station. 
Third  Sergt.  Anthony  Cain. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  405 

Fourth  Sergt  Charles  W.  Smoot. 

Fifth  Sergt.  James  Pollick. 

First  Corp.  James  A.  Parrill. 

Second  Corp.  C.  H.  Sisk. 

Third  Corp.  Dory  W.  Dawson. 

Fourth  Corp.  Hiram  Allen. 

Fifth  Corp.  or  Quarter  Master  Sergt.  George  Mathias. 

COMPANY  G. 

(Furnished  by  T.  J.  Young,  of  Austin,  Texas,  and  others.) 

OFFICERS. 

Capt.  Dr.  J.  F.  Mason. 

Lieut.  Sturgis  Davis,   afterwards  captain,   Baltimore  county, 

Md. ;  wounded. 

Second  Lieut.  Thaddeus  Thrasher,  killed  at  Kernstown. 
Third  Lieut.  Jeff.  Smith,  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  dead. 

PRIVATES. 

Annan,  Roger,  living  in  St.  Louis. 
Buck,  James,  Morgan  county,  Va.,  wounded. 
Brown,  B.  Bernard,  Baltimore,  Md.,  living. 
Brown,  Robert,  killed  on  Catharpin  Road,  Cattle  raid. 
Bouic,  J.  P.,  Rockville,  Md.,  dead ;  wounded. 
Boone,  Daniel,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead. 
Brashears,  T.  P.,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead;  wounded. 
Burns,  William,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead;  wounded. 
Cross,  Lew.,  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  dead;  wounded. 
Crown,  Josh.,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead;  afterwards  cap 
tain;  wounded. 

Crown,  John,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead;  wounded. 
Crown,  Frederick,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead. 
Clemens,  Ridgley,  killed  at  Beverly,  W.  Va. 


406  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Canter,  John,  Charles  county,  Md. 

Contwell,  Joseph. 

Caldwell,  Edward,  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  dead ;  wounded. 

Carlisle,  Charles,  killed  near  Martinsburg. 

Crampton,  B.  P.,  afterwards  captain  until  close  of  the  war; 

dead;  wounded. 

Dunlop,  John,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead ;  wounded. 
Dormedy,  John,  Cumberland,  Md.,  killed. 
Dorsey,  Charles,  Howard  county,  Md. 
Dorsey,  Nick. 

Edwards,  William,  living  in  West  Virginia,  wounded. 
Emerson,  Ridgely,  living  in  West  Virginia,  wounded. 
Gilbert,  Stevens,  living  in  West  Virginia,  wounded. 
Graham,  Israel,  living  in  Frederick  county,  Md.,  wounded. 
Grubb,  Richard,  afterwards  captain,  killed. 
Gatch,  Thomas,  living  in  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  wounded. 
Gover,  William,  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  dead. 
Green,  John,  Charles  county,  Md. 
Gilmor,  Harry,   Baltimore   county,    Md.,   afterwards   colonel; 


Gittings,  Edward,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead. 

Gilmore,  Howard,  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  dead. 

Howell,  Rodney,  afterwards  lieutenant,  dead ;  wounded. 

Higgins,  James,  Cumberland,  Md.,  killed. 

Higgins,  Henry,  Cumberland,  Md.,  killed. 

Hughes,  Irving,  Howard  county,  Md.,  killed. 

Hannon,  Henry,  Charles  county,  Md.,  dead. 

Hilleary,  Clarence,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  living;  wounded  at 

Fairfield,  Md. 

Hilleary,  Thomas,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  living. 
Lee,  Edmund,  Jefferson  county,  W.  Va.,  dead ;  wounded. 
Hoax,  Robert,  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  dead ;  wounded. 
King,  Thompson,  Anne  Arundel  county,  Md.,  living ;  wounded- 
Kemp,  William,  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  killed. 
Keller,  Ab.,  Allegany  county,  Md.,  killed. 
Knott,  Frank,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  killed. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  407 

Merriman,  Richard,  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  wounded. 

Motter,  Jake,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  wounded. 

Miller,  William,  Washington  county,  Md.,  dead ;  wounded. 

Money,  Ephraim,  died  at  Point  Lookout. 

Marshall,  Humphrey,  Kentucky,  dead. 

Minor,  Fairfax,  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  dead. 

Marlow,  Robert,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead. 

Mooney,  William. 

Norris,  James,  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  dead. 

Orrison,  Town,  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  dead ;  wounded. 

Orndorf,  Jim,  Jefferson  county,  W.  Va.,  wounded. 

Osburn,  Joseph,  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  living;  wounded. 

Owens,  Charles,  Anne  Arundel  county,  Md.,  afterwards  cap 
tain  ;  wounded. 

Paul,  William. 

Peyton,  Henry. 

Philpott,  Blanchard,  afterward  third  lieutenant ;  wounded. 

Rate,  Charles,  Charles  county,  Md.,  dead ;  wounded. 

Rench,  Charles,  Washington  county,  Md.,  dead. 

Ridge,  Emerson. 

Ritenour,  W.  H. 

Russell,  Dr.  Charles,  Loudoun  county,  Va. 

Singleton,  Thomas,  Montgomery  county,  Md.,  living  in  Wash 
ington  ;  wounded. 

Sakers,  Sam,  Maryland,  killed. 

Staub,  R.  P.  H.,  Virginia,  dead. 

Shepperd,  Thomas,  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  wounded. 

Shepperd,  Abe,  Jefferson  county,  W.  Va. 

Smith,  Clapham,  afterwards  third  lieutenant,  dead ;  wounded. 

Stocks,  Thomas,  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  wounded. 

Stoaks,  Brad.,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead ;  wounded. 

Stone,  William,  Washington  City,  living,  wounded. 

Trapnell,  Joseph,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  now  at  Charlestown, 
W.  Va. 

Thomas,  James  H.,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  killed. 

Thomas,  Charles,  Charles  county,  Md.,  killed. 


408  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

White,  E.  V.,  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  later  colonel;  wounded. 
Welsh,  Warner,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  afterwards,  captain; 

wounded. 

Wagner,  Charles,  Baltimore  City,  wounded. 
Wakenight,  William,  Washington  county,  Md.,  now  at  Har- 

risonburg,  Va. ;  wounded. 

Wilson,  C.  P.,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead ;  wounded. 
West,  Eugene,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  dead ;  wounded. 
West,  J.  P.,  Frederick  county,  Md.,  living;  wounded. 
Young,  Doric,  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  living;  wounded. 
Young,  T.  J.,  Austin,  Ark. 

COMPANY  H. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  I.  C.  Sharp,  killed  October  Qth,  1864. 
First  Lieut.  Jacob  Sharp,  killed  at  Gettysburg. 
Second  Lieut.  Durich  Pennybacker. 

NON-COM  MISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergt.  Benjamin  Pennybacker. 
Second  Sergt.  Phineus  Stickley,  wounded. 
Third  Sergt.  John  Folk,  killed. 
First  Corp.  William  Hesley. 
Second  Corp.  Daniel  Stickley. 
Third  Corp.  Jacob  Good. 


PRIVATES. 


Altafer,  J.  M. 
Bowman,  Michael,  dead. 
Bowman,  Edward,  dead. 
Black,  Richard. 
Brock,  Godfrey. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  409 

Brock,  William. 

Bean,  William,  company  cook. 

Deppo,  Phil. 

Deppo,  David. 

Diddier,  Hiram. 

Dinkle,  Enoch,  killed  at  Gettysburg. 

Ettinger,  David. 

Finnegan,  Richard. 

Fitzwaters,  Isaac,  killed. 

Hesley,  Milton. 

Harner,  George. 

Holtsinger,  Andrew. 

Harlow,  Samuel. 

Jordan,  John. 

Jordan,  Samuel. 

Moore,  Joseph,  killed  in  Cattle  raid. 

Mead,  - 

Moffit,  Willis,  quartermaster. 

Miller,  - 

Mulhere,  Bernard. 

Manley,  George,  wounded  October  Qth,  1864. 

Orelock,  Sampson. 

Pence,  John,  wounded  and  died. 

Pennybacker,  Ide,  wounded. 

Roads,  

Ready,  

Rador,  Cortus. 

Rice,  Joseph,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 

Shultz,  William. 

Simmers,  

Swanson,  

Stanley,  

Sandy,  William. 

Showalter,  Henry. 

Tappan,  Y.,  wounded  in  Cattle  raid. 

Wiseman,  John. 


4io  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 


Wilson,  

Windell,  James. 
Whisman,  John. 

COMPANY  I. 

(Furnished  by  J.  H.  Flemming,  of  Dayton,  Va.) 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  E.  H.  Shans,,  killed  accidentally  in  Rockingham  county. 
First  Lieut.  Noah   D.   Roudabush,   died   of  typhoid   fever  in 

Hampshire  county. 
Second  Lieut.  A.  C.  Lincoln. 
Third  Lieut.  Rease. 

Third  Lieut.  Jacob  Michael,  succeeded  Rease. 
Third  Lieut.  Moses  O'Brian,  succeeded  Michael. 

AFTER  REORGANIZATION. 
Capt.  A.  C.  Lincoln. 

First  Lieut.  Derick  Rader,  discharged  on  account  of  ill  health. 
Second  Lieut.  John  Crawford. 

Third  Lieut.  John  W.  Hughes,  commanded  the  company  the 
last  two  years  of  the  war  and  deserved  much  credit. 

PRIVATES. 

Armentrout,  Abraham. 

Armentrout,  David. 

Archer,  Peter. 

Bryan,  Robert. 

Bryan,  Jeremiah,  fourth  corporal. 

Bazle,  Moses. 

Bowman,  Benjamin. 

Bowman,  Jacob. 

Bowman,  Michael. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  41 1 

Brown,  Isaac. 

Bush,  Henry. 

Bush,  Erasmus. 

Bull,  Henry. 

Black,  Samuel. 

Baldwin,  James. 

Baxter,  Frank. 

Cook,  John. 

Detrick,  Jackson. 

Detrick,  Harvey. 

Desser,  John. 

Desser,  Milton. 

Depoy,  Isaac. 

Depoy,  Philip. 

Depoy,  Henry,  dead. 

Dinkle,  Allen. 

Dinkle,  Enos,  third  sergeant;  dead. 

Dinkle,  John. 

Flemming,  John. 

Flemming,  H.  F. 

Flemming,  J.  H.,  first  corporal. 

Flarity,  John. 

Foster,  Frank. 

Gyer,  John. 

Grannels,  Christopher. 

Gills,  William. 

Gills,  Daniel. 

Garland,  William,  third  corporal. 

Gaither,  James. 

Good,  William. 

Good,  Jacob. 

Hayes,  John  W. 

Homan,  Washington. 

Homan,  William. 

Holland,  Jerry. 

Hess,  Abraham,  fourth  sergeant. 


412  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Hinton,  John. 

Harrison,  William. 

Harrison,  David. 

Harrington,  Henry. 

Hume,  Benjamin. 

Hoover,  Jacob. 

Joseph,  Moses. 

Joseph,  John. 

Joseph,  Strother,  killed  on  Blackwater  Cattle  raid. 

Kearney,  James  H. 

Kerigan,  Henry. 

Kelly,  David. 

Lee,  Jack,  killed  at  Upperville. 

Latham,  James. 

Laymen,  Reuben. 

Loker,  Marion. 

Lincoln,  David. 

Loftes,  Arch. 

Loftes,  Ralph. 

Landis,  George. 

Landis,  Robert. 

Landis,  Washington. 

Laymon,  Philip,  killed  at  Appomattox. 

McDorman,  Samuel. 

McDorman,  John. 

Michael,  R.  T.,  killed  at  Cedar  Creek. 

Maupin,  Horace. 

Morris,  Henry. 

Morris,  George,  dead. 

Morris,  P. 

McKey,  Edward. 

Odewalt,  John. 

Pirkey,  E. 

Pirkey,  Henry. 

Planger,  Jacob. 

Planger,  Jacob,  Jr. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  413 

Planger,  John,  second  sergeant. 

Roudabush,  William  R. 

Pennybaker,  Joseph. 

Reedy,  George. 

Richards,  James,  second  corporal. 

Robinson,  John,  quartermaster. 

Robinson,  John,  Jr. 

Robinson,  William,  wounded  at  Cedar  Creek. 

Robinson,  Richard. 

Ray,  David. 

Ray,  Joseph. 

Rhodes,  Preston. 

Rader,  Peter. 

Rader,  John,  killed  at  the  Wilderness. 

Rinehart,  John. 

Riley,  Owen. 

Riley,  Michael,  first  sergeant. 

Smith,  Samuel. 

Scott,  George. 

Simpson,  Thomas. 

Turner,  James. 

Terrill,  William. 

Terrill,  St.  Clair. 

Thomas,  Samuel. 

Thomas,  Michael. 

Webster,  George. 

Webster,  William. 

Webster,  Robert. 

West,  D. 

Winegard,  John. 

Whisman,  James. 

Whisipan,  Charles. 

Wood,  George. 

Whitmore,  Frank. 

Whitmore,  John. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

COMPANY  K. 

(Compiled  by  John  L.  Schaeffer,  Quicksburg,  Va.) 
OFFICERS. 


First  Capt.  William  Miller,  died  in  Baltimore. 

Second  Capt.  H.  R.  T.  Koontz,  killed  near  Mt.  Jackson,  Va. 

(date  forgotten). 
Third  Capt.  J.  G.  Neff,  wounded  three  times,  twice  severely  ; 

living  in  Mt.  Jackson,  Va. 
First  Lieut.  J.  A.  Mohler,  sabre  cut  in  forehead  ;  died  in  Texas 

since  the  war. 
Second  Lieut.  Naason  Basye,  wounded  three  times  ;  living  in 

West  Virginia. 

PRIVATES. 

Albright,  John,  first  man  killed  in  company. 

Alger,  Nathaniel,  badly  wounded  in  east  Virginia  ;  dead. 

Alger,  John,  died  since  the  war. 

Andes,  Dilmon  J.,  living  near  Moores  Store,  Va. 

Bayse,  Jonas,  dead. 

Bridagum,  Isaac. 

Baker,  Milton  O.,  living. 

Bolinger,  Adam,  dead. 

Brumbaugh,  Green  S.,  Martinsburg,  W.  Va. 

Bridges,  Marian  F.,  near  New  Market,  Va. 

Branner,  Philip,  dead;  wounded. 

Bird,  William  Wirt,  died  since  the  war. 

Bird,  P.  M.  S.,  living  near  Mt.  Jackson,  Va. 

Barr,  Joseph. 

Barb,  David  A.,  died  from  wounds  received  in  battle. 

Barb,  Amos  S.,  died  near  Alum  Springs. 

Barb,  Elias,  not  long  in  service,  detailed. 

Barb,  David  (of  Henry),  died  in  Romney  in  1861. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  415 

Coile,  Samuel,  dead. 
Coile,  Cain,  dead. 

Cave,  John  H.,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Cave,  Benjamin  F.,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Cave,  Noah,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Cook,  Cornelius,  living-  near  Columbia  Furnace. 
Clem,  William  B.,  died  in  New  Market,  Va.,  in  1907. 
Clem,  Ammon  W.,  company  blacksmith,  dead. 
Dingledine,  Adam,  died  from  wound  in  battle. 
Drummond,  William,  dead. 
Drummond,  Jacob,  dead. 
Estep,  Jesse,  living  near  Orkney  Springs,  Va. 
Estep,  William,  dead. 
Estep,  George,  near  Cabin  Hill,  Va. 
Estep,  Moses,  West. 
Eckard,  John. 

Elbon,  Lorenzo  D.,  killed  at  Greenland  Gap,  W.  Va. 
Fansler,  George  W.,  dead. 
Fansler,  Siram,  Orkney  Springs. 

Funkhouser,  John  H.,  wounded  in  battle ;  living  near  Moore- 
field,  W.  Va. 

Funkhouser,  Jacob  H.,  Orkney  Springs,  Va. 
Funkhouser,  William,  wounded;  died  in  1902. 
Funkhouser,  Simon,  dead. 

Funkhouser,  David,  company  cook,  died  in  January,   1906. 
Funkhouser,  Isaac,  Orkney  Springs,  Va. 
Funkhouser,  Christ.  B.,  died  in  1907. 
Funkhouser,  Samuel  H._,  Indiana. 
Funkhouser,   Peter,  killed  in  battle. 
Feller,  Mahlon  G.,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Foltz,  Nathaniel  S..,  Forestville,  Va. 
Foltz,  Joseph,  dead. 
Foltz,  Samuel  J.,  dead. 
Fadely,  Daniel. 
Frye,  William,  dead. 
Fry,  Jacob. 


416  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Frye,  Reuben,  Parkersburg,  W.  Va. 

Filtzmoyer,  Lemuel,  wounded  in  east  Virginia. 

Fisher,  Joel  S.,  Maryland. 

Garber,  Joseph  J.,  Forestville,  Va. 

Getz,  John,  died  February  3rd,  1901. 

Getz,   Samuel  D.,  died  February  I2th,  1907. 

Good,  John  W.,  Hagerstown,  Md. 

Good,  Jacob. 

Griffith,  Mark,  killed  in  east  Virginia. 

Hottel,  David  H.,  Woodstock,  Va. 

Hottel,  Nathaniel  (Dock),  Ohio. 

Hepner,  Dice,  killed  at  Upperville,  Va. 

Hepner,  John  Jv  dead. 

Hepner,  Jacob  L.,  wounded  twice  severely ;  living  near  Orkney 

Springs,  Va. 
Hepner,  James. 

Hepner,  Gideon,  detailed;  near  Orkney  Springs,  Va. 
Hepner,  Henry,  wounded  at  Cedar  Creek ;  Oregon. 
Hanson,  William,  died  from  wound. 
Hanson,  Samuel,  dead. 
Harpine,  Jonathan  J.,  dead. 
Harpine,  Silone,  Moores  Store,  Va. 
Hansbarger,  J.  Lemuel,  Conicville,  Va. 
Haun,  Joseph,  Indiana. 
Higgs,  Noah,  dead. 
Higgs,   Frank  L.,  West  Virginia. 
Hollar,  Robert  S.,  Kansas. 

Hottinger,  David  (Dwarf),  not  long  in  service. 
Kibler,  William,  Woodstock,  Va. 
Kipps,  Jacob,  killed  in  skirmish. 
Kipps,  Adam,  dead. 

Kipps,  Lewis,  joined  company;  war  closed  before  he  reported. 
Keller,  Amos,  Mount  Olive. 
Keller,  Ananias,  Toms  Brook,  Va. 
Kelley,  Bryan  T.,  dead. 
Lonas,  J.  Benton,  killed  in  east  Virginia. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  417 

Lambert,  Joseph,  wounded;  Woodstock,  Va. 

Lichliter,  A.  J.,  sabre  cut,  August  2nd,  1863,  at  Orange  Court 

House,  Va. 

Lichliter,  Cornelius  B.,  Towel's  Fort,  Va. 
Long,  Benjamin  F.,  accidentally  killed  himself. 
Matthews,  Robert  L. 
Middleton,  John,  dead. 
Mclnturff,  J.  B.,  Strasburg,  Va. 
Mclnturff,  A.  P.,  Strasburg,  Va. 
McMullen,  David,  Reliance,  Va. 
McWilliams,  Reuben,  dead. 
McWilliams,  David,  dead. 
Moomaw,  Samuel,  killed  in  east  Virginia. 
Moomaw,  David,  Orkney  Springs,  Va. 
Moomaw,  George  W.,  near  Hudson's  Crossroads. 
Moomaw,  Jesse,  dead. 
Mohler,  William  A.,  died  in  Texas  in  1900. 
Mohler,  Thomas  J.,  Timberville,  Va. 
Moore,  William  P.,  Forestville,  Va. 
Neff,  J.  Michael,  teamster,  near  New  Market,  Va. 
Nesselrodt,  Job.  S.,  Orkney  Springs,  Va. 
Nesselrodt,    A.  J.,  dead. 
Overholser,  Samuel  P.,  west. 
Orndorff,  Philip,  wounded ;  dead. 
Orndorff,  George  W.,  Toms  Brook,  Va. 
Orndorff,  John  H.,  not  long  in  service. 
Peer,  John  W.,  Saumsville,  Va. 
Peer,  Joseph,  Saumsville,  Va. 
Pennywitt,  Reuben,  dead. 
Pence,  William  A.,  wounded  twice  in  battles. 
Pence,  John  W.,  company  cook,  died  October  I4th,  1906. 
Pence,  John  M.,  Forestville,  Va. 
Pence,  Harrison,  died  October  nth,  1901. 
Pence,  Samuel,  Forestville,  Va. 
Pence,  Adam,  ambulance  corps ;  Forestville. 
Pence,  Michael  J.,  died  August  2nd,  1906. 


4i 8  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Pence,  Milton,  died  May  loth,  1900. 

Peters,  Amos,  died  at  Mt  Clifton. 

Prophet,  Jacob,  cook,  died  January  I7th,  1903. 

Rinker,  Israel  Rv  dead. 

Rau,  Samuel,  dead. 

Ritter,  Joseph,  shot  in  mouth. 

Rude,  William  S.,  wounded  at  Trevilians  station. 

Reedy,  John,  dead. 

Reedy,  David  S.,  Mount  Olive. 

Ryman,  David,  wounded;  dead. 

Ryman,  Thomas  J.,  Kansas. 

Rickard,  John,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Sheets,  Will,  dead. 

Showalter,  John  H.,  Moores  Store,  Va. 

Shutters,  David,  killed  in  skirmish  near  Timberville. 

Shutters,  Christopher,  Forestville. 

Straub,  Frederick. 

Steinhart,  John,  sabre  cut,  August  3rd,  1863,  at  Orange  Court 

House. 

Stickley,  Joseph,  dead. 
Stickley,  George,  killed  in  Meems  Bottoms. 
See,  John  Cv  died  from  wounds  received  in  battle. 
See,  Craigen,  dead. 

Snarr,  John  H.,  wounded  in  east  Virginia. 
Smootz,  Harvey,  company  commissary,  dead. 
Swartz,  John,  Missouri. 
Schaeffer,  John  L.,  sabre  cuts,  August  2nd,  1863,  at  Orange 

Court  House. 

Schaeffer,  George  W.,  Quicksburg. 
Sibert,  John  M.,  dead. 
Tussing,  Henry,  near  Orkney  Springs,  Va. 
Webb,  Henry,  eastern  Virginia. 
Webb,  Isaac,  detailed. 
Webb,  Jacob,  dead. 
Webb,  Reuben,  Illinois. 
Wakeman,  John. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  419 

Walker,  Levi,  dead. 

Wunder,  Henry  S.,  Mt  Jackson. 

Will,  John,  near  Moores  Store,  Va. 

Walters,  Lemuel,  not  long  in  service. 

Zehring,  John,  badly  wounded  at  Cedar  Creek. 

Zehring,  William,  killed  in  east  Virginia. 

Zehring,  Jacob,  killed  at  Gettysburg. 

Zehring,  Samuel,  wounded  in  battle. 

Zehring,  George  W.,  wounded  in  battle. 

Zirkle,  A.  J.,  dead. 

Zirkle,  Silone,  near  Mt.  Jackson,  Va. 

Zirkle,  J.  Michael,  Forestville. 

Five  officers,  170  privates,  sergeants  and  corporals. 


MUSTER  ROLL  OF  ELEVENTH  VIRGINIA  CAVALRY 

(LAUREL  BRIGADE),  ARMY  OF 

NORTHERN  VIRGINIA. 


COMPANY  A. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  A.  J.  Turner,  dead,  Luray,  Va. 
First  Lieut.  J.  B.  Seibert. 
Second  Lieut.  L.  F.  Wilson,  killed. 
First  Sergt.  J.  W.  Satterfield,  Seattle. 
Second  Sergt.  B.  Runk,  killed. 
Third  Sergt.  Thad,  Britner,  killed. 

PRIVATES. 

Betts,  James,  dead,  Martinsburg,  W.  Va. 

Butler,  John,  Bunker  Hill,  W.  Va. 

Cross,  J.  W.,  Berkeley  Springs. 

Cross,  D.  W.,  Hedgesville,  W.  Va. 

Cross,  J.  A.,  Bunker  Hill,  W.  Va. 

Callan,  Neal. 

Crane,  George. 

Doran,  Joseph. 

Fooks,  J.  D. 

Hedges,  F.  F.,  killed. 

Harris,  C.  T. 

Hodson,  Louis,  Winchester,  Va. 

Jenkins,  James,  killed. 

Kitchen,  Charles. 

King,  R.  A. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  421 

Lillard,  Hall,  Madison  county. 

Mowery,  John,  killed. 

McNamar,  Michael,  Martinsburg,  W.  Va. 

Mingle,  John,  dead. 

Miller,  Henry,  dead. 

Miller,  Samuel,  dead. 

Norman,  Matthew,  Berkeley  Springs. 

Patterson,  John,  killed. 

Patterson,  James,  Bunker  Hill. 

Patterson,  Frank,  Bunker  Hill. 

Post,  James. 

Pifer,  George,  Bunker  Hill. 

Royce,  William,  Hampshire  county. 

Ritter,  J.  W.,  killed. 

Ritter,  Abe. 

Rockwell,  G.  W. 

Swagard,  Louis. 

Sperry,  William,  dead. 

Strode,  Joseph,  dead. 

Smith,  Frank,  dead. 

Sayles,  William  T.,  Martinsburg,  W.  Va. 

Wilson,  T.  G.,  dead. 

COMPANY  B. 

(Furnished  by  T.  K.  Cartmell) 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  William  H.  Harness,  resigned ;  Capon  Springs,  W.  Va. 

First  Lieut.  S.  H.  Alex,  died  after  the  war. 

Second  Lieut.  Charles  J.  Lobb,  died  after  the  war. 

Third  Lieut.  James  Wilson. 

First  Sergt.  M.   B.   Cartmell,  promoted  to  captaincy;   killed 

December  17,  1863. 
Second  Sergt.  Christian  Hoffman. 


422  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Third  Sergt.  John  Wilson,  Beverly,  W.  Va. 

Fourth  Sergt.  Isaac  McKeever,   detailed  ordnance  sergeant; 

died. 
Fifth  Sergt.  George  B.  Larrick,  wounded   1862;  Lexington, 

Va. 

First  Corp.  H.  W.  Halterman. 
Second  Corp.  Benjamin  Longacre. 
Third  Corp.  C.  J.  Longacre. 
Fourth  Corp.  William  Branson. 

PRIVATES. 

Albin,  James. 

Amick,  Henry,  killed. 

Ashenfelter,  David. 

Bean,  Joseph,  Beans  Settlement,  Hardy  county,  W.  Va. 

Berry,  J.  W. 

Beohm,  T.  S. 

Bovinger,  George. 

Crites,  Daniel. 

Crites,  William. 

Custard,  St.  Clair. 

Cook,  Abner,  accidentally  wounded. 

Clem,  James  H. 

Crawford,  L.  W. 

Coffman,  W.  W. 

Combs,  Armstead. 

Cartmell,  Thomas  K.,  detailed  for  secret  service,  commissioned 

captain;  Winchester,  Va. 
Cunningham,  D.  C. 
Culdice,  William. 
Cleaver,  George. 
Demond,  Edward. 

Daugherty,  James  H.,  promoted  to  captaincy;  killed. 
Dyer,  J.  W. 
Early,  James  O. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  423 


Fon,  Geoige. 
Fisher,  J.  P.  C. 
Fitzwater,  


Fishel,  David. 

Fitzwater,  Levi. 

Hardy,  John. 

Halterman,  Jacob. 

Harper,  William,  lost  leg;  Postoffice,  Lost  City,  W.  Va. 

Halterman,  Michael. 

Halter,  John. 

Hulver,  Isaac,   badly  wounded  when   Captain   Cartmell   was 

killed ;  Postoffice,  Lexington,  Mo. 
Hutton,  Daniel  M. 
Hudson,  Thomas. 
Hawes,  Jasper. 

Heiskell,  Joe  Dan,  Romney,  W.  Va. 
Judy,  Enoch,  Moorefield,  W.  Va. 
Ketterman,  Aaron. 

Lloyd,  William,  killed  as  scout  when  with  T.  K.  Cartmell. 
Lloyd,  Robert,  captured  as  scout  when  with  T.  K.  Cartmell; 

never  heard  from. 
Ketterman,  Abraham. 
Ketterman,  Gabriel. 
Lynch,  John  W. 
Lyons,  William. 
Mayhew,  James. 
Mungold,  Solomon,  scout. 
Miller,  Ambrose. 
McDermott,  Henry. 

McKeever,  William,  died  1900,  Wardensville,  W.  Va. 
McKeever,  H.  C.,  died  1900,  Wardensville,  W.  Va. 
May,  James  M. 
Neff,  Mortimer,  W. 
Newhouse,  Thomas,  captured. 
Orndorff,  Morgan. 
Orndorff,  Henry  J. 


424  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Pownell,  David,  absent  without  leave. 

Parsons,  Adam. 

Pratt,  John,  detailed  in  Jackson  Corps. 

Pratt,  Job  H. 

Pains,  John,  absent  from  wounds  received  in  battle. 

Reed,  H.  J.,  Postoffice,  Opequon,  Va. 

Riffey,  Harvey. 

Smith,  Reuben. 

Sherman,  Noah. 

Snyder,  Martin  V. 

Sager,  Jacob. 

Sulser,  John  T. 

Sine,  Bazil. 

Sine,  Elijah. 

Sine,  Benjamin,  absent  with  leave;  sick. 

Smith,  Joseph,  absent  with  leave ;  sick. 

Saroil,  John,  sick. 

Smith,  David. 

Smith,  Daniel. 

Thorpe,  Benjamin  F. 

Teetes,  Levi. 

Violet,  W.  H. 

Van  Meter,  David,  killed  when  Captain  Cartmell  was  killed 

near  Fairfax  Station. 
Vameter,  Isaac. 
Wilson,  George. 
Witzel,  Jacob. 
Webb,  Thomas. 
Painter,  Absolom. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  425 

COMPANY  C. 

(Furnished  by  I.  N.  Beery.) 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  John  R.  Pendleton,  dead. 

First  Lieut.  E.  S.  Mitchell,  died  September  3,  1907;  Timber- 

ville,  Va. 

Second  Lieut.  John  Fauley,  living;  Illinois. 
Third  Lieut.  Edwin  Pendeton,  killed  in  Wilderness  fight,  Va. 
First  Sergt.  John  Famkin,  living;  Clarksburg,  W.  Va. 
Second  Sergt,  Hally  Bragoiner,  Alexandria,  Va. 

PRIVATES. 

Aubry,  Polk,  West  Virginia. 

Beery,  I.  N.,  Harrisonburg,  Va. 

Bush,  Charles,  Linville,  Va. 

Bennett,  Joshua,  Linville,  Va. 

Bush,  Samuel,  dead ;  Linville,  Va. 

Bull,  Henry,  dead;  Rockingham,  Va. 

Bailey,  Henry,  dead;  Rockingham,  Va. 

Beam,  Abraham,  dead;  Rockingham,  Va. 

Clem,  Ashford,  dead ;  Rockingham,  Va. 

Cline,  Henry,  dead ;  Rockingham,  Va. 

Clem,  Frank,  dead ;  Rockingham,  Va. 

Cook,  Joseph. 

Durrow,  Marion. 

Eversole,  Peter,  dead. 

Erman,  James,  Harrisonburg,  Va. 

Faught,  Joseph  L,  dead;  Rockingham,  Va. 

Feller,  John  L.,  living;  Woodstock,  Va. 

Fink,  Noah, 

Gray,  Richard,  dead ;  Berryville,  Va. 


426  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Hulvy,  George,  living;  Harrisonburg,  Va. 

Holsinger,  Phil,  living;  Tenth  Leagon,  Va. 

Holsinger,  John,  living;  Tenth  Leagon,  Va. 

Lonthan,  James  L.,  died  since  the  war. 

Hess,  Harvey. 

Jones,  Thomas. 

King,  Wilson,  dead;  Baltimore,  Md. 

Miaphes,  Charles,  killed  at  surrender. 

Nazlerod,  William,  killed  at  surrender;  Rockingham  county, 

Va. 

Nane,  Joseph,  living  at  Broadway,  Va. 
Tennington,  Harvey. 
Thomas,  Perry. 

Roudabush,  William,  living  in  Indiana. 
Roadcap,  Jacob,  dead. 

Roadcap,  Harvey,  living  in  Brocks  Gap,  Va. 
O'Roark,  Charles. 

Reed,  Abraham,  dead ;  Rockingham,  Va. 
Reedy,  Joseph,  dead ;  Rockingham,  Va. 
Ritchie,  Philip,  dead ;  Rockingham,  Va. 
Ritchie,  Simon,  dead ;  Brocks  Gap,  Va. 
Showalter,  B.  R,  living;  Brandy  Station,  Va. 
Showalter,  G.  W.,  dead;  Mt.  Crawford,  Va. 
Shaner,  G.  W.,  dead ;  Edom,  Va. 
Shipe,  Joseph,  dead ;  Harrisonburg,  Va. 
Snyder,  D.  C,  Berryville,  Va. 
Smith,  Harrison,  living;  Forestville,  Va. 
Smith,  Thomas. 
Spencer,  Edward. 
Smith,  Henry. 

Sprinkel,  Calvin,  living;  Brocks  Gap,  Va. 
Sanger,  Levi,  Sangersville,  Va. 
Somers,  Reuben,  Brocks  Gap,  Va. 
Taylor,  Henry. 
Vanmeter,  James,  living;  Berryville,  Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  427 

Vanmeter,  Isaac,  Berry ville,  Va. 

Vandiver,  John. 

Wilson,  George  R. 

Walters,  William,  living;  Shenandoah  county,  Va. 

Witting,  Harry. 

Wetzel,  Simon. 

Zetty,  Daniel,  living  at  Melrose,  Va. 

COMPANY  D. 

(Furnished  by  E.  H.  McDonald.) 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  E.  H.  McDonald,  promoted  to  major,  then  to  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  regiment;  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 

First  Lieut.  William  Taylor,  promoted  to  captain ;  Ridgeville, 
W.  Va. 

Second  Lieut.  John  Blue,  promoted  to  first  lieutenant;  Rom- 
ney,  W.  Va. 

Third  Lieut.  Isaac  Parsons,  promoted  to  second  lieutenant; 
died  since  the  war. 

First  Sergt.  Joseph  Seward,  promoted  to  third  lieutenant; 
Afton,  Va. 

First  Sergt.  John  D.  Parsons,  Shaw,  Kans. 

Second  Sergt.  Amos  Robinson,  dead. 

Third  Sergt.  R.  B.  Kidd,  dead. 

Quartermaster  Sergt.  Samuel  Bane,  Ballington,  W.  Va. 

Company  Sergt.  Conrad  Nomstat,  Ballington,  W.  Va. 

Corp.  Uriah  Lease,  dead. 

Corp.  James  Ream,  killed  at  Jacks  Shop. 

Corp.  Lem.  Nixon,  dead. 

Corp.  George  Holt,  dead. 


428  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  John,  dead. 

Abbee,  Frederick,  died  in  prison. 

Abbee,  Philip,  dead. 

Brady,  Isaac  T.,  promoted  to  corporal ;  dead. 

Brill,  Mathias,  killed  at  Darksville. 

Brown,  Frank,  Shutz  Mills,  W.  Va. 

Bowers,  John  W.,  Fort  Worth,  Tex. 

Brown,  Richard,  died  in  prison. 

Barnet,  Frank,  killed  in  battle. 

Brown,  John. 

Bobo,  J.  W. 

Carder,  Charles. 

Carder,  Frederick. 

Carroll,  John,  killed  at  Hanover  Junction. 

Carroll,  Jed. 

Chressap,  Robert,  killed  at  Moorefield. 

Chapman,  Charles. 

Clayton,  Charles. 

Conrad,  Charles,  died  since  the  war. 

Conrad,  Holmes  Y.,  promoted  to  sergeant-major  of  regiment; 

Winchester,  Va. 
Casler,  John  O.,  Oklahoma. 
Clary,  Thad. 
Clary,  Dick. 

Dailey,  Benjamin,  twice  wounded;  Moorefield,  W,  Va. 
Davie,  James,  killed  in  Hampshire  county. 
Duvall,  George,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 
Davie,  John. 
Davis,  Morris. 

Dailey,  John,  Piedmont,  W.  Va. 
Davis,  Randolph,  Soldiers'  Home,  Richmond,  Va. 
Fridle,  Samuel. 
Feshel,  S. 
Grove,  J.,  a  very  gallant  soldier ;  killed  in  the  Wilderness. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  429 

Huddleson,  Henry,  Charlottesville,  Va. 

Huddleson,  Healey. 

Hanas,  Stephen. 

Hunot,  E.,  Romney,  W.  Va. 

Holt,  G.,  killed  in  Hampshire  county. 

Inskeep,  J.  V. 

Hartman,  Ike. 

Haines,  Jasper. 

Houser,  Henry. 

Kelley,  John. 

Leese,  Uriah. 

Lovett,  C.  S. 

Light,  Edward,  killed  near  Richmond. 

McDonald,  William  N.,  promoted  to  captain  of  ordnance. 

Moorehead,  William,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 

Moorehead,  Robert,  badly  wounded;  Missouri. 

Murphy,  Frank. 

Myers,  Frank,  captured  at  Darksville. 

Pancake,  Joseph  A.,  Staunton,  Va. 

Pancake,  S. 

Pancake,  John  S.,  Romney,  W.  Va. 

Parsons,  James  D. 

Poland,  John  W. 

Poland,  Amos. 

Pownell,  Jasper. 

Parsons,  William  M. 

Robinson,  Joel. 

Rudolph,  Simon,  badly  wounded  at  Reams  Station. 

Rudolph,  John,  died  in  prison  hospital. 

Ruse,  John  M. 

Riley,  Charles,  died  since  the  war. 

Senoff,  Herman,  died  in  prison. 

Sivell,  John. 

Spurline,  Luke. 

Swartz,  Edward,  Missouri. 

Seymour,  Dan,  killed  near  Petersburg,  W.  Va. 


430  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Seymour,  John  N. 

Shingleton,  Abe,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 

Shingleton,  Elisha. 

Shelley,  James,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 

Smith,  James,  Winchester,  Va. 

Seibert,  Charley. 

Stewart,  John,  died  at  Camp  Chase. 

Starns,  John. 

Taylor,  Dudley,  promoted  to  corporal. 

Taylor,  John. 

Taylor,  Enos,  died  in  prison. 

Taylor,  D.  K. 

Taylor,  Rufus,  captured  near  Culpeper  Court  House;  Davy, 

W.  Va. 

Uston,  John,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 
Wolfe,  Isaac,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 
White,  Thomas. 
Watkins,  H.  M. 

Watkins,  Charles,  killed  near  Hagerstown. 
Washington,  Edward,  Romney,  W.  Va. 

COMPANY  E. 

(Furnished  by  William  F.  Hottel.) 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  Joseph  T.  Hess. 

Capt.  J.  L.  Hooff. 

Capt.  H.  H.  McGuire,  mortally  wounded  at  Amelia  Springs. 

Lieut.  J.  W.  Brent. 

Lieut.  G.  W.  Hottel,  wounded  and  captured ;  Lincoln,  Neb. 

Lieut.  William  Hockman,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 

Lieut.  G.  W.  Spiker,  killed  at  Spottsylvania. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  431 

PRIVATES. 

Agnew,  Oscar. 

Baker,  Daniel,  dead. 

Baker,  G.  W.,  killed  at  Jacks  Shop. 

Baker,  Henry,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station ;  Keyser,  W.  Va. 

Baker,  Nicholas,  dead. 

Borden,  D.  M.,  dead. 

Borden,  A.  P.,  dead. 

Borden  Joseph,  dead. 

Ely,  Mason,  wounded  at  Amelia  Springs ;  dead. 

Bly,  Richard,  killed  at  Jacks  Shop. 

Brown,  J.  W.,  killed  at  Spottsylvania. 

Beaver,  J.  E.,  dead. 

Buck,  Bruce,  dead. 

Bushony,  Isaac. 

Barrenger,  Joseph. 

Booth,  C.  S. 

Booth,  John  F.,  Lebanon  Church,  Va. 

Boyer,  Bent. 

Boyer,  J.  A. 

Bell,  R.  F.,  Strasburg,  Va. 

Bell,  

Bowman,  J.  K. 

Cooper,  William,  dead. 

Crabill,  L.  C.,  killed  near  Strasburg,  Va. 

Crabill,  O.  H.,  Strasburg,  Va. 

Crabill,  Hal. 

Crabill,  Benjamin. 

Crabill,  Jacob. 

Crabill,  D.  G.,  bugler  of  regiment. 

Coffman,  Walter,  killed  at  Fisher's  Hill. 

Collins,  Carson. 

Chase,  Daniel. 

Dodd,  R.  D.,  dead. 

Dewar,  J.  J.,  dead. 


432  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Dickenson,  James. 

DeHaven,  Martin. 

Eberly,  Jacob. 

Eberly,  Joseph. 

Eberly,  Isaac,  dead. 

Effenger,  William. 

Fauver,  Noah. 

Funkhouser,  Amos,  dead. 

Feely,  William  H.,  Thomas,  W.  Va. 

Feeley,  John,  Lebanon  Church,  Va. 

Feeley,  Silas,  Lebanon  Church,  Va. 

Green,  James. 

Green,  Zack. 

Glaize,  G.  W.,  Strasburg,  Va. 

Grove,  S.  M.,  Strasburg,  Va. 

Hottel,  William  F.,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station;  Winchester, 

Va. 

Hammond,  Lawrence,  dead. 
Hammond,  John,  Fisher's  Hill,  Va. 
Huffman,  A.  J.,  dead. 
Hinkins,  G.  A.,  Strasburg,  Va. 
Hinkins,  J.  H.,  Strasburg,  Va. 
Hodges,  John. 
Hefline,  James. 
Hess,  L.  Dow,  dead. 
Hyde,  D.  B.,  dead. 

Harrison,  Howard,  wounded ;  disabled  for  service. 
Holmes,  H.  W.,  dead. 
Holmes,  James,  dead. 
Hironemoss,  Hutch,  dead. 
Holler,  John,  dead. 
Holler,  George,  dead. 
Holler,  John  A.,  Edenburg,  Va. 
Hockman,  J.  W. 
Hoover,  William,  dead. 
James,  Samuel. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  433 

Kerns,  Ephraim,  dead. 

Killmer,  James. 

Luttral,  Archibald. 

Lynn,  G.  B.,  Winchester,  Va. 

Lynn,  James,  died  in  prison. 

Luke,  William. 

Lutholtz,  Robert,  Strasburg,  Va. 

Lee,  G.  W.,  dead. 

Lee,  Samuel,  killed  at  Jacks  Shop. 

Miller,  WTilliam,  first,  Lebanon  Church,  Va. 

Miller,  William,  second,  Winchester,  Va. 

Miller,  J.  F. 

Miller,  J.  H. 

McGlincy,  R.   P.,  dead. 

McCloud,  James. 

Mort,  Jerry,  killed  by  Brown. 

Maphis,  George. 

Pangle,  Abe,  Lebanon  Church,  Va. 

Pangle,  William  E.,  killed  near  Woodstock,  Va. 

Pangle,  Joseph. 

Pingley,  D.  M.,  Lebanon  Church,  Va. 

Pogue,  R.  L.,  dead. 

Rudy,  Isaac,  dead. 

Rutherford,  J.  A. 

Rutherford,  Tom,  first. 

Rutherford,  Tom,  second. 

Ree^y,  Abe,  dead. 

Rhyne,  John,  dead. 

Ridenour,  Alfred,  dead. 

Stover,  David,  dead. 

Smith,  James,  dead. 

Sheets,  Daniel,  dead. 

Scroggins,  J.  E.,  dead. 

Sonner,  J.  H. 

Sonner,  J.  W.,  dead. 

Showalter,  Tom,  dead. 


434  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Shambaugh,  Cline,  Lincoln,  Neb. 

Shambaugh,  Charles. 

Sievers,  G.  W. 

Swisher,  J.,  Salem,  Va. 

Shotts,  Mark,  killed  in  the  Wilderness. 

Shafer,  Theodore,  killed  at  river,  Mt.  Jackson. 

Snyder,  Henry,  dead. 

Snyder,  John. 

Stickley,  D.  H.,  Strasburg,  Va. 

Stickley,  William,  dead. 

Stickley,  Benjamin,  dead. 

Stickley,  G.  W.,  Strasburg,  Va. 

Stickley,  D.  E.,  Strasburg,  Va. 

Stickley,  David  E.,  Strasburg,  Va. 

Stickley,  J.  H. 

Stickley,  P.  D. 

Stickley,  Josiah,  dead. 

Stickley,  Walter,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 

Sensenuey,  E.  D. 

Omps,  James,  dead. 

Beach,  Jacob. 

Biers,  Charles. 

Whitington,  Gershem,  dead. 

Whitington,  Joseph,  dead. 

Wright,  Milton,  dead. 

Warner,  Philip. 

Welch,  Samuel. 

Welch,  James. 

Welch,  Joseph. 

Watson,  Samuel. 

Watson,  Jacob,  dead. 

Watson,  Benjamin. 

Winegood,  John,  dead. 

Winegood,  Joseph,  dead. 

Windle,  William,  dead. 

Williams,  J.  J.,  dead. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  435 

COMPANY  F. 

(Furnished  by  Lieut.  A.  C.  L.  Gatewood.) 
OFFICERS. 

First  Capt.  A.  G.  McChesney,  died  since  the  war. 

Second  Capt.  A.  J.  Ware,  died  since  the  war. 

First  Lieut.  Henry  McClintic,  Midland,  Tex. 

Second  Lieut.  A.  C.  L.  Gatewood,  Linwood,  W.  Va. 

Brevet  Second  Lieut.  H.  M.  Poage,  killed  in  1863. 

Brevet  Second  Lieut.  S.  A.  Bonner,  killed  at  the  Wilderness, 

May  6th,  1864. 

First  Sergt.  E.  L.  Beard,  Academy,  W.  Va. 
Second  Sergt.  A.  S.  Bratton,  Millboro,  Va. 
Third  Sergt.  Jonathan  Wise,  killed  at  Sailors  Creek,  April, 

1865. 
Fourth  Sergt.  Joseph  Silvers,  color  sergeant,  died  from  wounds 

received  October,  1863. 
First  Corp.  Lewis  Payne,  Covington,  Va. 
Second  Corp.  J.  S.  Dickinson,  Millboro  Springs,  Va. 
Third  Corp.  William  G.  Payne,  Covington,  Va. 
Fonrth  Corp.  Michael  Mustoe,  died  since  the  war. 
Quartermaster  Sergt.  J.  P.  McDonald,  died  since  the  war. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson,  Samuel,  Mountain  Grove,  Va. 

Acord,  George,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th,  1864. 

Ailstock,  Robert,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Beard,  Moffett,  died  since  the  war. 

Beard,  John  G.,  Academy,  W.  Va. 

Beard,  W.  W.,  Academy,  W.  Va. 

Beard,  J.  J.,  died  since  the  war. 

Banner,  S.  A.,  killed  second  day's  fight  in  the  Wilderness. 


436  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Bratton,  W.  A.,  killed  on  Cattle  raid  near  City  Point,  Septem 
ber,  1864. 

Bratton,  J.  F.,  Cleeks  Mills,  Va. 
Bradshaw,  J.  B.,  McDowell,  Va. 
Burger,  David,  died  since  the  war. 
Burnside,  James,  died  since  the  war. 
Callison,  J.  C.,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Chandler,  Samuel,  Braxton  county,  W.  Va. 
Chandler,  David,  Braxton  county,  W.  Va. 
Cleek,  George  W.,  Cleeks  Mills,  Bath  county,  Va. 
Cleek,  D.  G.,  died  since  the  war. 
Cochran,  Clark,  Academy,  W.  Va. 
Cochran,  G.  B.,  Academy,  W.  Va. 
Criser,  John  S.,  Warm  Springs,  Va. 
Criser,  R.  J.,  dead,  Covington,  Va. 
Dean,  William,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Douglass,  Calvin,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Douglass,  B.,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Dunlap,  James  R.,  Missouri. 
Edmiston,  Andrew,  died  since  the  war. 
Edmiston,  Matthew,  Washington. 
Edmiston,  Richard,  Missouri. 
Eagle,  Newton,  McDowell,  Va. 
Estes,  William,  Albemarle  county,  Va. 
Frazier,  James  A.,  Rock  Alum  Springs,  Va. 
Fry,  William,  died  since  the  war. 
Gibson,  Lewis,  dead;  Kansas. 
Ginger,  George,  accidentally  killed  at  Gordonsville. 
Grose,  Henry,  killed  May  6th,  1864,  at  the  Wilderness. 
Gwinn,  J.  S.,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Gwinn,  J.  K.  P.,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Gwinn,  William,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Gillespie,  Joseph  G.,  died  since  the  war. 
Hamilton,  Charles,  killed  near  Woodstock,  Va. 
Hamilton,  J.  E.,  California. 
Hamilton,  J.  A.,  Kerrs  Creek,  Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  437 

Hickman,  L.  W.,  Hendricks,  W.  Va. 
Hodge,  James,  Warm  Springs,  Va. 
Jordan,  John,  Millboro,  Va. 
Jordan,  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Jordan,  William,  died  since  the  war. 
Keyser,  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Keyser,  D.  W.  C.,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Keyser,  Hezekiah,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Kennison,  Davis,  Academy,  W.  Va. 
Kennison,  J.  L.,  Academy,  W.  Va. 
King,  A.  C.,  whereabouts  unknown. 
King,  Spatswood,  Rich  Patch,  Va. 
Landes,  Joseph,  Mountain  Grove,  Va. 
Lockridge,  David,  died  since  the  war. 
Lockridge,  Stephen,  Highland  county,  Va. 
Martin,  W.  A.,  Missouri. 
McElwee,  John,  died  since  the  war. 
McElwee,  D.  B.,  Driscol,  W.  Va. 
McElwee,  B.  D.,  Green  Bank,  W.  Va. 
McElwee,  Francis,  Huttonsville,  W.  Va. 
]\l:Carty,  John,  whereabouts  unknown. 
McChesney,  James  Z.,  Charleston,  W.  Va. 
McDonnald,  G.  W.,  died  since  the  war. 
McNeil,  A.  G.,  died  since  the  war. 
Maffett,  W.  B.,  died  since  the  war. 
Maffett,  George  H.,  Parkersburg,  W.  Va. 
Moore,  W.  H.,  Covington,  Va. 
Mustoe,  David,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Mustoe,  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Mayse,  Anderson,  died  since  the  war. 
O'Meara,  James,  died  since  the  war. 
Payne,  W.  H.,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Payne,  J.  E.,  Warm  Springs,  Va. 
Porter,  A.  S.,  Millboro,  Va. 
Pauturff,  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Price,  Henry,  died  since  the  war. 


438  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Revercomb,  George,  Highland  county,  Va. 

Revercomb,  Archie,  killed  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6th,  1864. 

Revercomb,  John,  Highland  county,  Va. 

Revercomb,  C.  T.,  Clifton  Forge,  Va. 

Rosser,  John,  killed  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6th,  1864. 

Snead,  William,  Alleghany  county,  Va. 

Snead,  Robert,  Alleghany  county,  Va. 

Stewart,  J.  H.,  died  since  the  war. 

Sittington,  Alex.  H.,  died  since  the  war. 

Shultz,  John,  died  since  the  war. 

Surber,  M.  P.,  Clifton  Forge,  Va. 

Swarts,  Samuel,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Swartz,  John,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Swarts,  Lewis,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Thomas,  David,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Thomas,  Charles,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Thomas,  Samuel,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Thomas,  George,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Tinsley,  W.  H.,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Tinsley,  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 

True,  Thomas,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Thompson,  Henry,  Missouri. 

Wallace,  C.  R.,  Williamsville,  Va. 

Wave,  G.,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Wave,  O.,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Williams,  E.  B.,  Healing  Springs,  Va. 

Williams,  Thomas,  Healing  Springs,  Va. 

Williams,  E.  T.,  Healing  Springs,  Va. 

Wilfong,  Jacob. 

Wilkinson,  James,  died  since  the  war. 

Windom,  John,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Woods,  P.  A.,  died  since  the  war. 

Quartermaster  Sergt.  J.  P.  McDonald  died  after  the  war. 

Color-bearer  Joseph  Silvers  was  killed  in  the  lower  Valley  in 
1864. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  439 

COMPANY  G. 

(Furnished  by  George  T.  McClintic,) 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  Foxhall  A.  Dangerfield,  wounded  at  Orange  Court 
House,  August  2nd,  1862;  sabre  cut  on  head  and  shot 
in  left  shoulder  and  captured.  Wounded  at  Upperville, 
June,  1863,  at  Baltimore  and  Ohio  roundhouse;  near 
New  Creek,  in  1864,  and  near  Amelia  Springs,  April  5, 
1865  ;  living  at  Lexington,  Ky. 

First  Lieut.  Joseph  Mayse,  wounded  at  Jacks  Shop  in  1864; 
lost  eye;  died  1905. 

Second  Lieut.  Archibald  M.  McClintic,  wounded  at  Orange 
Court  House,  August  2nd,  1862,  and  at  Ashland, 
August,  1864;  Fincastle. 

Brevet  Second  Lieut.  John  A.  Warwick,  wounded  May  5th, 
1863,  at  the  Wilderness — Spottsylvania ;  died  1901. 

First  Sergt.  William  H.  Hopkins,  wounded  at  Upperville  in 
June,  1863;  died  Millboro,  Va. 

Second  Sergt.  Jasper  C.  Lewis,  wounded  at  Orange  Court 
House,  and  received  three  wounds  in  Hampton's  Cattle 
raid  in  Nottoway  county,  Va.,  1864;  Green  Valley,  Bath 
county,  Va. 

Third  Sergt.  George  T.  McClintic,  wounded  at  Orange  Court 
House;  Midland,  Tex. 

Fourth  Sergt.  Robert  J.  Glendy,  wounded  in  Cattle  raid,  1864; 
Pulaski  county,  Va. 

Color  Sergt.  Joseph  Silvers,  wounded  and  died  after  the  war. 

First  Corp.  William  P.  Thompson,  killed  near  Rapidan  sta 
tion,  Orange  county,  Va.,  August  2nd,  1862. 

Second  Corp.  Fendall  C.  Donnella,  mortally  wounded  in  1864 
in  Hampton  Cattle  raid  on  Blackwater  River;  died  in 
hospital  in  North  Carolina. 

Third  Corp.  Zorobabel  Ailstock,  wounded ;  died  after  the  war. 


440  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Fourth  Corp.  William  H.  Anderson,  wounded,  sabre  tierce 
through  arm,  Orange  Court  House,  August  2nd,  1862, 
and  captured;  died  at  Covington,  Va.,  in  1901. 

PRIVATES. 

Ailstock,  C.  F.,  survived  the  war ;  history  unknown. 

Ailstock,  Jordan,  survived  the  war ;  history  unknown. 

Archie,  Robert,  died  in  1862. 

Armstrong,  Peter,  lost ;  supposed  killed  on  Jones'  raid  in  West 
Virginia,  April,  1863. 

Armstrong,  Dr.  J.  M.,  survived  the  war ;  last  known  residence, 
Knox  county,  Mo. 

Burger,  Samuel  C.,  wounded  May  6th,  1864,  in  the  Wilder 
ness — Spottsylvania ;  died  in  Bath  county,  Va.,  in  1900. 

Burger,  David,  died  after  the  war  in  Bath  county,  Va. 

Burns,  Presley  F.,  wounded ;  died  after  the  war. 

Burns,  John. 

Bishop,  George. 

Booth, ,  killed  in  West  Virginia,  where  he  had  gone  for 

a  fresh  horse. 

Brattan,  William  R.,  killed. 

Brattan,  J.  Mitchell,  Millboro  Springs,  Va. 

Brattan,  James,  died  during  the  war. 

Brodkin,  Ami,  lost  record  of. 

Cleek,  Eli,  Warm  Springs,  Va. 

Cleek,  James  G.,  Warm  Springs,  Va. 

Crizer,  John,  died  in  1863. 

Crizer,  Thomas  J.,  died  in  Pocahontas  county,  W.  Va.,  in  1903. 

Crizer,  W.  H. 

Crizer,  Lewis. 

Curry,  Andrew,  wounded,  believed  still  living;  Sunrise,  Bath 
county,  Va. 

Cade,  Balis,  Baptist  minister;  living  at  last  report  in  Rich 
mond,  Va. 

Cosby,  Benjamin  G.,  died  after  the  war  near  Millboro,  Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  441 

Cosby,  John,  Millboro,  Va. 

Cosby,  David,  died  during  the  war. 

Cauley,  Lee,  survived  the  war ;  history  unknown. 

Coffee,  Henry,  Lynchburg. 

Donovan,  Stephen,  wounded ;  living  at  Warm  Springs,  Va. 

Dean,  William,  died  in  1862. 

Ervin,  James,  killed  May  6th,  1864,  in  the  Wilderness — Spott- 

sylvania. 

Eagle,  Newton,  history  unknown. 
Friel,  James,  history  unknown. 

Furr,  ,  lived  in  Augusta  county,  but  probably  dead. 

Gendy,  Robert,  wounded,  living  in  Pulaski  county,  W.  Va. 

Glendy,  Benjamin,  wounded. 

Glendy,  John,  died  after  the  war. 

'^lendy,  Thomas,  died  after  the  war. 

Green,  William,  mortally  wounded  and  died  near  Upperville, 

Va.,  in  1863. 
Gladwell,  John  W.,  survived  the  war;  according  to  last  account 

living  in  Highland  county,  Va. 
Gayheart,  Joseph,  history  unknown. 
Holcomb,  Joseph,  wounded. 

Hook,  Elisha,  died  in  Alleghany  county,  Va.,  after  the  war. 
Husk,  Thomas  J.,  last  heard  of  resided  in  Highland  county,  Va. 
Hoover,  David,  living  at  Healing  Springs,  Va. 
Hively,  Thomas  J.,  died  during  the  war. 
Jackson,  Peyton,  living  at  Covington,  Va. 

Johnson,  ,  history  unknown. 

Keister,  William  R.,  wounded ;  died  after  the  war  in  Highland 

or  Augusta  county,  Va. 

Kincaid,  Joseph  B.,  died  during  or  soon  after  the  war. 
Karnes,  William  H.,  wounded,  lost  leg;  died  after  the  war. 

Kemp,  ,  history  unknown. 

King,  Alexander,  living  at  Iron  Gate,  Va. 

Lockridge,  Cooper,  wounded;  drowned  after  the  war  in  Cow 

Pasture  River,  Bath  county,  Va. 
Lockridge,  John,  wounded  in  leg ;  living  in  Bath  county,  Va. 


442  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Lange,  Henry  C,  killed,  February,  1863,  in  Maurertown  fight. 

Lange,  John,  wounded. 

Law,  Aaron,  wounded  and  died  of  wounds  (I  think). 

Law,  Benjamin,  wounded;  living  at  Warm  Springs,  Va. 

Law,  James,  died  after  the  war. 

Law,  Stephen,  living  near  Staunton,  Va. 

Lynch,  W.  L.,  died  after  the  war;  many  years  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  minister. 

Langridge,  Richard,  living  in  Lewiston,  Mo. 

McClintic,  Adam,  killed  November  I2th,  1864,  in  charge  at 
Brent's  house,  near  Cedar  Creek,  Frederick  county,  Va. 

McClintic,  William  S.,  wounded  May  6th,  1864,  in  the  Wilder 
ness  and  on  Cattle  raid — Blackwater  River;  died  after 
the  war. 

McClintic,  John  S.,  wounded;  living  in  Monroe  City,  Mo. 

McClintic,  Robert,  killed  at  Pattersons  Creek  in  the  winter  of 
1863. 

McClintic,  Andrew  B.,  died  after  the  war. 

McClintic,  James,  history  unknown ;  said  to  be  living  in  Mon 
tana. 

McDannald,  D.  Crockett,  died  in  1862. 

McDannald,  William  C. 

McDannald,  William  R.,  died  after  the  war. 

McMath,  Samuel  Sv  died  after  the  war. 

Mayse,  Allan  C.,  died  after  the  war. 

Mayse,  Charles  F.,  living  in  Bath  county,  Va. 

Mayse,  George,  wounded ;  living  at  Austin,  Tex. 

Mayse,  Thomas,  history  unknown. 

Oliver,  C.  H.,  wounded ;  living  at  Ollie,  Va. 

Oliver,  Joseph,  died  during  the  war. 

Price,  Andrew  G.,  captured ;  died  in  prison. 

Payne,  Charles,  living  in  Missouri. 

Phillips,  Thomas,  living  in  W.  Va. 

Phillips,  William,  bugler ;  living  in  W.  Va. 

Richy,  Joseph,  died  after  the  war. 

Richy,  William,  living  at  Warm  Springs,  Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  443 

Reynolds,  William  H.,  survived  the  war ;  history  unknown  . 

Rogers,  Stephen,  survived  the  war,  history  unknown. 

Simpson,  George,  living  at  Millboro,  Va. 

Simpson,  John. 

Simpson,  William. 

Shumate,  John  K.,  living;  manager  of  transportation  and  ani 
mal  trainer,  Sells'  Circus. 

Smith,  Charles,  survived  the  war. 

Smith,  James,  wounded ;  survived  the  war. 

Smith,  Stuart,  survived  the  war. 

Taylor,  Almond  C,  survived  the  war. 

Thompson,  Benjamin,  killed  May  6th,  1864,  in  the  Wilderness 
— Spottsylvania. 

Thompson,  Charles,  wounded;  died  in  1906  near  Healing 
Springs,  Va. 

Thompson,  George,  wounded;  died  after  the  war. 

Thompson,  Mason,  died  during  the  war. 

Thompson,  William,  killed  at  Rapidan  station,  August  2nd, 
1862. 

Thomas,  Charles,  living  at  Hot  Springs,  Va. 

Thomas,  Jacob,  killed. 

Thomas,  Samuel,  wounded;  survived  the  war. 

Williams,  Erasmus. 

Williams,  Anthony  G. 

Williams,  Harvey. 

Williams,  James,  living  at  Lewiston,  Mo. 

Williams,  Lewis,  died  after  the  war  in  Salem,  Va. 

Winthrow,  Jack,  living  at  Millboro  Springs,  Va. 

Wallace,  Andrew,  killed  at  Patterson's  Creek,  W.  Va.,  in  1865. 

Wallace,  Christopher,  survived  the  war. 

Warwick,  J.  W.,  Jr.,  living  at  Huntersville,  W.  Va. 

Woodzell,  B.  F.,  living  in  Bath  county,  Va. 

Woodzell,  William,  survived  the  war. 

Wilkinson,  Robert  S.,  survived  the  war ;  Warm  Springs,  Va. 

Young,  George,  killed  in  West  Virginia  raid  in  1863. 


444  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

COMPANY  H. 

(Furnished  by  H.  O.  Pierce.) 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  A.  M.  Pierce,  died  since  the  war. 

First  Lieut.  Joseph  Sherrard,  died  since  the  war. 

Second  Lieut.  Braxton,  went  to  foreign  war. 

PRIVATES. 

Marker,  Amos     E.,     wounded;    prisoner    in    Camp     Chase; 

Opequon,  Va. 
Wireman,  John. 

Orndorff,  Ananias,  living  on  Cedar  Creek. 
Keiffer,  James. 

Frye,  AL,  living  in  Shenandoah  county. 
Frye,  B.  F.,  Mountain  Falls,  Va. 
Lichliter,  Daniel,  died  since  the  war. 
Fauver,  John,  died  since  the  war. 
Fauver,  Samuel,  killed  during  the  war. 
Ashwood,  Joseph,  Lenora,  Va. 
Shell,  Samuel,  living  on  Cedar  Creek. 
Orndorff,  Lemuel. 

Orndorff,  Phineas,  died  since  the  war. 
Conner,  Morgan,  living  on  Cedar  Creek. 
Conner,  James,  living  about  Halltown. 
Whetzel,  James,  Clearbrook,  Va. 
Clark,  James,  Braddock  Distillery,  Cumberland,  Md. 
Frye,  Joseph  Presley,  died  since  the  war. 
Himmelwright,  Joseph,  Star  Tannery. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  445 

(Furnished  by  R.  M.  Cooper.) 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  A.  M.  Pierce,  wounded ;  now  dead. 

First  Lieut.  Joseph  H.  Sherrard,  wounded ;  now  dead. 

Second  Lieut.  A.  C.  Braxton. 

PRIVATES. 

Bowman,  John,  Wheatfield,  Shenandoah  county,  Va. 
Clarke,  James,  prisoner;  Cumberland,  W.  Va. 
Crosin,  Randolph. 
Conner,  Morgan,  Zepp,  Va. 
Conner,  James,  Zepp,  Va. 
Cauplin,  P. 

Cooper,  R.  M.,  wounded  at  Amelia  Springs  just  before  sur 
render  ;  Bloom,  Shenandoah  county,  Va. 
Dinkel,  Peter,  Winchester,  Va. 
Eskridge,  Heck,  Gravel  Springs. 
Fauver.  Samuel,  killed ;  forgot  name  of  place. 
Fauver,  John,  prisoner;  died  since  the  war. 
Frye,  Joseph  P.,  killed  in  valley. 
Frye,  A.   N.,  living  at  Woodstock,  Va. 
Frye,  James,  living  at  Winchester,  Va. 
Green,  J.  B.,  prisoner;  New  Orleans. 
Huff,  John,  living  at  Gravel  Springs. 
Himelright,  Joseph  M.,  wounded;  Star  Tannery,  Va. 
Himelright,  James,  dead. 

Linaburg,  Martin,  living  at  Stephens  City,  Va. 
Orndorff,  Ananias. 
Orndorff,  Setz,  dead. 
Orndorff,  Joseph  B.,  dead. 
Orndorff,  Amos,  dead. 
Orndorff,  M. 


446  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Orndorff,  Lemuel,  don't  know  if  living  or  not ;  postoffice,  Zepp, 

Va. 
Shell,  Samuel,    wounded   near    some   church;    Zepp,    Va.    (I 

think). 

Smith,  Sandy,  dead. 

Smith,  William,  Wheatfield,  Shenandoah  county,  Va. 
Whetzel,  James,  living  at  Clearbrook,  Va. 
White,  Ira,  killed  at  the  Wilderness. 
Wilson,  Martin. 
Wimer,  Jack. 

COMPANY  I. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  M.  M.  Ball,  wounded. 

Lieut.  William  H.  Kirby,  killed. 

Lieut.  Alfred  Moore,  severely  wounded ;  dead. 

Lieut.  William  H.  Reid,  dead. 

PRIVATES. 

Alexander,  B. 

Alexander,  D. 

Ball,  Charles  H.,  severely  wounded  prior  to  1864;  returned 
and  served  to  Appomattox;  1711  Oxford  St.,  Philadel 
phia,  Pa. 

Ball,  John  H.,  killed  at  JefTersonton. 

Ball,  John  T.,  wounded;  Washington,  D.  C. 

Ball,  Lewin  T.,  Lewinsville,  Va. 

Ball,  M.  M.,  wounded ;  captain  at  close  of  war. 

Ball,  Summerfield,  killed  1864,  Nances  Shop. 

Ball,  William  S.,  wounded  on  November  I2th,  1864;  United 
States  Treasurer's  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Ball,  William  W.,  dead. 

Bell,  B.  A. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  447 

Bell,  G.  H. 

Billings,  Edward. 

Billings,  William,  severely  wounded  on  raid  in  West  Virginia. 

Burke,  T.  T. 

Butler,  W.  B. 

Carrigan,  J.  P. 

'"atlett,  H.  C. 

Cleveland,  H.  C. 

Cashman,  T. 

Clump,  John,  wounded. 

Cockrell,  Seth,  wounded  on  October  7th,  1864. 

Cooksey,  J.  W. 

Cooney,  Patrick,  wounded  in  Cattle  raid  in  1864. 

Dodd,  Markus. 

Donatini,  L.  G.,  died  in  service. 

Estes,  — 

Everson,  Doyle. 

Fairfax,  John. 

Fenton,  J.  B. 

Ford,  W.  E. 

Grigsby,  P.  C. 

Grigsby,  T.  M.,  not  with  company  after  capture  in  Alexandria. 

Gheen,  G. 

Harding,  G. 

Harrison,  George  H. 

Heath,  J.  B.,  did  not  return  after  capture  in  Alexandria. 

Hughes,  John  T. 

Hughes,  L.  T. 

Hughes,  D. 

Jefferies,  Richard,  dead. 

Kirby,  Asbury,  wounded;  Falls  Church,  Va. 

Kirby,  George  F.,  wounded;  dead. 

McCartney,  wounded. 

McClannahan,  John. 

McClung,  

McCorkle,  


448  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 


Morter,  

Nelson,  James  W.,  killed. 

Nelson,  Joseph,  died  in  service. 

Perry,  Alex,  Conway,  Fla. 

Ratcliffe,  C.  W.,  did  not  return  after  capture  in  Alexandria. 

Reid,  E.  C.,  wounded;  Washington,  D.  C. 

Ritenour,  David. 

Rutler,  G.  W. 

Smith,  A.  M. 

Smith,  F.  M. 

Saunders,  Plunk. 

Stalcup,  Joshua,  dead. 

Speaks,  J.  H.,  did  not  return  after  capture  in  Alexandria. 

Summers,  

Thompson,  Joseph,  wounded  in  arm  and  breast;  Ash  Grove, 

Va. 

Taylor,  John  S. 
Toole,  Patrick. 
Toole,  John. 

Utterback,  William  Hv  severely  wounded. 
Ward,  Joseph. 

Williams,  R.,  died  in  service. 
Winn,  John,  killed. 


COMPANY  K. 

(Furnished  by  D.  C.  Snyder.) 
OFFICERS. 

Lieut.  William  Powell,  unknown. 

Second  Lieut.  Jack  Smith,  Upperville,  Va. 

PRIVATES. 

Chappell,  George,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Drish,  Donk,  unknown. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  449 

Furr,  Frazier,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Furr,  Harris,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Grimes,  George,  unknown. 
Grimes,  Joseph,  unknown. 
Moore,  James,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Moore,  Joseph  C.,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Murphy,  J.  T.,  Leesburg,  Va. 
Murphy,  Moses  B.,  unknown. 
Powell,  Lute,  unknown. 
Powell,  Watt,  unknown. 
Pyles,  William,  Millwood,  Va. 
Shell,  Alfred,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Shafer,  John  T.,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Smith,  George,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Smith,  Jackson,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Stickles,  Jno.  M.,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Stickles,  Henry,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Thompson,  William,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Tomblin,  James,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Wiley,  James,  Bluemont,  Va. 
Willingham,  George,  unknown. 


MUSTER  ROLL  OF  TWELFTH  VIRGINIA  CAVALRY 

(LAUREL  BRIGADE),  ARMY  OF 

NORTHERN  VIRGINIA. 


Col.  Assher  W.  Harman,  of  Staunton,  Va.,  wounded  at  Fleet- 
wood  Hill,  near  Brandy  Station,  June  gth,  1863 ;  long 
time  a  prisoner  of  war ;  now  dead. 

Lieut.-Col.  Thomas  E.  Massie,  of  Warren  county,  Va. ;  several 
times  wounded,  once  severely;  now  living  in  Rappa- 
hannock  county,  Va. 

Major  John  Locher  Knott,  of  Jefferson  county,  Va.,  wounded; 
afterwards  killed  at  High  Bridge. 

Adjt.  Lewis  Harman,  of  Staunton,  Va.,  afterwards  commis 
sioned  captain  of  Company  I ;  but  short  time  in  com 
mand,  being  soon  after  captured  and  held  a  prisoner 
to  near  end  of  the  war. 

COMPANY  A. 

(Furnished  by  A.  L.  Osbourn  and  James  W.  McGarry.) 
OFFICERS. 

First  Capt.  -       —  Isabel,  dead. 
Second  Capt.  John  Henderson,  dead. 

Third  Capt.  James  W.  Glenn,  Shenandoah  Junction,  W.  Va. 
Fourth  Capt.  W.  H.  Morrow,  dead. 
First  Lieut.  Jacob  Engle,  dead. 
Second  Lieut.  Samuel  M.  Engle,  dead. 
Third  Lieut.  Charles  Owen,  whereabouts  unknown, 
James  Osborn,  dead. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  451 

First  Sergt.  James  A.  Langdon,  New  York. 
CLrp.  J.  Corbin  Blackford,  killed. 

PRIVATES. 

Ashby,  John,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Blake,  George  V.,  Brucetown,  Va. 

Billmyer,  William,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Blue,  Joseph  G.,  Martinsburg,  W.  Va. 

Blue,  John,  Leetown,  W.  Va. 

Earner,  C.  Eldrige,  Middleway,  W.  Va. 

Bolus,  Thomas,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Brown,  Joe,  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 

Burns,  Isaac,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Brown,  Thomas,  dead. 

Barringer,  Frank,  dead. 

Belt,  Adam  S.?  dead. 

Butt,  J.  W.,  Tennessee. 

Barrett,  Charles,  dead. 

Briscoe,  William,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Boyer,  George,  dead. 

Cameron,  William  H.,  dead. 

Coyle,  Joseph  H.,  killed. 

Coyle,  Jerome  B.,  Leetown,  W.  Va. 

Coyle,  I.  M.,  killed. 

Cincindiver,  James,  Ridgeway,  W.  Va. 

Cincindiver,  George,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Coleman,  John,  killed. 

Cockrill,  Thomas,  dead. 

Colbert,  John,  killed. 

Cincindiver,  John,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Cincindiver,  Samuel,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Cramer,  Robert,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Dillow,  Joe,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Dooley,  Lewis,  Columbus,  O. 

Dorn,  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 


452  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Doran,  Matthew,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Dailey,  John,  Dailey,  W.  Va. 

Dailey,  Richard,  Harper's  Ferry,  W.  Va. 

Driscol,  Daniel,  killed. 

Dixon,  George,  Halltown,  W.  Va. 

Dorsey,  Patrick,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Engle,  Benjamin,  Bakerton,  W.  Va. 

Engle,  Henry,  Engles,  W.  Va. 

Engle,  Brent,  Ohio. 

Engle,  William,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Foreman,  Perry,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Frith,  John,  dead. 

Foreman,  Charles,  Missouri. 

Geisling,  Harrison,  Ellicott  City,  Md. 

Gheisling,  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Gainor,  Patrick,  Texas. 

Glassford,  Alexander,  dead. 

Garrison,  Lewis,  dead. 

Grove,  Henry,  killed. 

Hicks,  John,  killed. 

Hess,  J.  Frank,  Shenandoah,  Va. 

Homer,  Sandy,  Gaylord,  Va. 

Homer,  Thomas,  Shenandoah,  Va. 

Homer,  William,  killed. 

Hosier,  James,  dead. 

Hughes,  Thomas,  Maryland. 

Harrold,  Elihu,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Hiser,  John,  killed. 

Jones,  George,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Jones,  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Keller,  John,  Harper's  Ferry,  W.  Va. 

Kimmell,  John,  Harper's  Ferry,  W.  Va. 

Kimmell,  Isaac,  Harper's  Ferry,  W.  Va. 

Kane,  Maurice,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Kerfoot,  P.,  dead. 

Lance,  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  453 

Loyns,  Jeff.,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Lattimer,  T.,  dead. 

Manuel,  Thornton,  Duffields,  W.  Va. 

Manuel,  John,  dead. 

Manuel,  Columbus,  dead. 

McGlone,  Edward,  dead. 

McCann,  Patrick,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Manuel,  Lucien,  Culpeper,  Va. 

Manuel,  Jasper,  Duffields,  W.  Va. 

Moore,  Vincent,  Kearneysville,  W.  Va. 

Moore,  Albert,  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 

Mercer,  Fenton,  dead. 

McSherry,  William,  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 

McWinkle,  J.,  dead. 

Morgan,  Samuel,  killed. 

McGarry,  James  W.,  Shenandoah  Junction,  W.  Va. 

Miller,  James,  dead. 

Niceley,  A.  Dv  Kansas. 

Noland,  Charles,  killed. 

Nelson,  Isaac,  Winchester,  Va. 

O'Bannon,  Hiram,  whereabouts  unknown. 

O'Bannon,  Alfred,  dead. 

O'Connell,  Patrick,  dead. 

Piper,  William,  dead. 

Piper,  James,  dead. 

Painter,  Lewis,  killed. 

Painter,  Jacob,  killed. 

Painter,  James,  dead. 

Pearl,  Burt,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Rockenbaugh,  John  W.,  dead. 

Roberts,  Samuel. 

Roberts,  William,  dead. 

Ramey,  Michael,  killed. 

Reed,  Benjamin,  Tennessee. 

Ramey,  Isaac,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Sager,  John,  whereabouts  unknown. 


454  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Staley,  Parin,  Martinsburg,  W.  Va. 

Seldon,  Carey,  transferred  to  Company  B ;  living  at  Washing 
ton,  D.  C. 

Spater,  Charles,  dead. 

Shepherd,  William,  dead. 

Shipway,  Thomas,  dead. 

Staub,  Lewis,  dead. 

Staub,  Jessie,  killed. 

Small,  A.  S.,  Barton,  Md. 

Souders,  F.  B.,  dead ;  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 

Skinner,  William,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Thompson,  Charles,  dead. 

Thompson,  Josiah,  dead. 

Trist,  John,  Louisiana. 

Taylor,  John,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Whittington,  Daniel,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Whittington,  James  W.,  transferred  to  Company  B ;  where 
abouts  unknown. 

Wiltshire,  Charles  B.,  killed. 

Wiltshire,  Dr.  James  G.,  transferred  to  Mosby's  Battalion  • 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Wright,  W.  H.,  Iowa. 

Whittington,  John  Newton,  dead. 

Webster,  Dallas,  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 

Whittington,  James  C.,  Jefferson  county,  W.  Va. 

Wagley,  William,  dead. 

Way,  Harrison  A.,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Yull,  Stephen,  dead. 

Zombro,  George,  whereabouts  unknown. 

COMPANY  B. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  R.  W.  Baylor,  badly  wounded. 

First  Lieut.  Milton  Rouss,  wounded;  captured  at  Brandy  Sta 
tion;  some  time  in  prison. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  455 

Second  Lieut.  George  Roland,  left  the  service. 

Second  Lieut.  B.  C.  Washington,  wounded  three  times;  twice 

a  prisoner. 

Third  Lieut.  George  Baylor,  wounded. 
Orderly  Sergt.  S.   W.   Timberlake,   wounded;   several  horses 

shot  under  him;  was  called  "The  fighting  Sergeant." 
Second  Sergt.  J.  H.  Conklyn. 
Third  Sergt.  C.  W.  Trussell. 
Fourth  Sergt.  W.  C.  Frazier,  wounded. 

PRIVATES. 

Aisquith,  E.  M. 

Aisquith,  W.  M.,  dead. 

Anderson,  Isaac,  wounded. 

Alexander,  Charles,  dead. 

Alexander,  Herbert,  died  from  effects  of  imprisonment. 

Averill,  William,  killed. 

Baylor,  Richard  C.,  killed  at  Parkers  Store. 

Baylor,  Robert  W.,  Jr.,  killed  in  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 

Bartlett,  Joseph,  wounded. 

Baker,  William  H.,  wounded. 

Baney,  Thaddeus,  killed  at  Jacks  Shop. 

Barringer,  James. 

Beall,  H.  D.  Noted  scout;  belonged  to  Baltimore  Sun  edi 
torial  corps ;  captured  near  Lexington,  Va.,  and  held  in 
prison  till  end  of  the  war. 

Bell,  Daniel,  wounded. 

Berry,  Charles,  wounded;  dead. 

Bonham,  Edward. 

Butler,  J.  D. 

Conklyn,  C.  C. 

Chamberlain,  Lucien. 

Crane,  C.  L. 

Castleman,  Robert,  wounded;  dead. 

Cooke,  B.  W. 


456  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Coleman,  John,  wounded. 

Conrad,  Morris. 

Conrad,  J.  M.  M. 

Crane,  Joseph,  dead. 

Crane,  J.  C.,  wounded. 

Cookus,  Robert. 

Creaton,  George,  wounded ;  dead. 

Coyle,  J.  W.,  dead. 

Craighill,  R.  T.,  wounded. 

Dovenberger,  Daniel,  wounded. 

Easterday,  Joseph. 

Easterday,  John. 

Eddins,  H.  C.,  wounded  in  Cattle  raid. 

English,  W.  D.,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th,  1864. 

Faughnder,  Daniel,  wounded. 

Faughnder,  Fenton. 

Fry,  J.  D. 

Gallaher,  J.  H.,  wounded;  dead. 

Gallaher,  Edward,  dead. 

Gallaher,  J.  S.,  dead. 

Gordon,  Abraham,  wounded. 

Gibson,  W.  H.,  dead. 

Grantham,  J.  S.,  dead. 

Henderson,  Charles  E.,  wounded. 

Henderson,  Robert,  dead. 

Hilbert,  John,  dead. 

Hilbert,  George. 

Howell,  John. 

Huyett,  R.  D.,  killed ;  refused  to  surrender. 

Hoffmaster,  J.  W. 

Hutchinson,  Dr.  Julian,  dead. 

Hunter,  H.  C.,  dead. 

Isler,  C.  H.,  killed  at  Brandy  Station,  June  Qth,  1863. 

Johnson,  Charles  G. 

Lackland,  E.  M.,  dead. 

Lewis,  B.  F. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  457 

Lewis,  J.  L. 

Lewis,  Elisha. 

Lewis,  George,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 

Lewis,  David,  killed. 

Locke,  William,  killed  at  Yellow  Tavern. 

Manning,  C.  J. 

Manning,  G.  U.,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 

Manning,  William  P.,  wounded,  June  9th,  1863. 

Manning,  F.  J.,  wounded;  dead. 

Manning,  A.  D. 

Myers,  Thomas. 

Mason,  William  S. 

McKnown,  Warner,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 

McCluer,  John. 

Moore,  Monrose,  killed. 

Nicely,  Charles. 

North,  Robert,  dead. 

Rouss,  C.  B.,  dead ;  enlisted  from  patriotic  duty  at  the  last  call 
of  Lee.  A  fine  fighter ;  was  a  successful  New  York  mer 
chant  ;  gave  $100,000  to  the  fund  for  a  Southern  battle 
abbey,  and  spent  his  fortune  freely  to  relieve  needy 
Confederate  soldiers. 

Ranson,  Thomas  D.,  of  Staunton,  Va.,  was  wounded  at  Mc 
Dowell  and  Cross  Keys  while  lieutenant  in  Fifty-second 
Virginia  Infantry.  He  joined  Company  B  as  a  private ; 
was  a  noted  scout  for  Generals  Stuart  and  R.  E.  Lee ; 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Tom's  Brook,  and  held 
until  June,  1865. 

Ranson,  B.  B. 

Randall,  James,  dead. 

Redman,  T.  B. 

Rowland,  J.  H. 

Strider,  Isaac  H.,  wounded. 

Starry,  Tustin. 

Sadler,  L.  L.,  dead. 

Selden,  W.  C.,  wounded. 


458  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Smith,  John  W.,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 
Tearney,  Leo. 
Thompson,  William  S. 
Timberlake,  George,  wounded. 
Timberlake,  Richard,  killed  in  Cattle  raid. 
Timberlake,  Stephen. 
Timberlake,  J.  H.,  wounded ;  dead. 
Timberlake,  J.  L.,  wounded. 
Timberlake,  T.  W.,  wounded. 
Timberlake,  Harry. 
Trussell,  J.  T. 
Trussell,  E.  C,  dead. 
Trussell,  Moses. 
Terrill,  Philip,  killed. 
Terrill,  J.  U. 

Washington,  George,  \vounded ;  dead. 

Washington,  J.  C.,  died  in  Pert  McHenry,  prisoner  of  war. 
Wysong,  R.  I.,  wounded;  dead. 
Willis,  Beale. 

Willis,  Albert,  died  during  the  war. 
Willis,  Frank,  dead. 

Wilson,  William   L.,   member   of   Congress   and   Postmaster- 
General  in  Administration  of  Cleveland. 
Wiltshire,  J.  C.,  killed. 
Whittington,  Benjamin,  dead. 
Wolfe,  John  W. 
Wright,  Samuel,  killed. 
Workman,  John,  killed. 
Wingard,  George,  wounded. 
Yates,  John  O.,  dead. 
Young,  Mason  E. 
Zombro,  J.  W.,  dead. 
Zombro,  T.  B.,  killed. 
Zombro,  J.  D. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  459 

COMPANY  C. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  John   H.    Ford,   wounded   at   Poolesville,   Md.,   and   at 

Jacks  Shop. 

First  Lieut.  W.  H.  Myers. 

Second  Lieut.  Joseph  R.  Wood,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 
Third  Lieut.  Richard  Sydnor,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 
First  Sergt.  R.  S.  D.  Heironomus,  wounded  at  Jacks  Shop  by 

sabre  cut  and  in  several  other  fights. 
Second  Sergt.  Edgar  Davis. 
Third  Sergt.  George  Chenowith. 

Fourth  Sergt.  Thomas  M.  Eddy,  wounded  at  Berryville,  Va. 
First  Corp.  Henry  Huntsberry. 

Second  Corp.  T.  J.  Jackson,  killed  in  the  Wilderness. 
Third  Corp.  George    Hilliard,    wounded    at    Culpeper    Court 

House. 
Fourth  Corp.  Marshall  McDonald. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  John  D.,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 

Ashwood,  Thomas. 

Ashwood,  Eli. 

Brumback,  Jacob. 

Brumback,  Joseph. 

Baylis,  Milton,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 

Bowers,  Frank. 

Brown,  James. 

Baker,  William. 

Baker,  John. 

Brown,  Joseph. 

Baker,  Henry. 

Bennett,  Peter. 

Beemer,  John. 


460  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Brumback,  Dallas. 

Bell,  John. 

Bell,  Henry. 

Bell,  Joseph. 

Copenhaver,  Morgan. 

Colsten,  John  T.,  wounded  at  Reams  Station. 

Carter,  Charles,  wounded  in  the  Wilson  raid. 

Carter,  Joseph. 

Crisman,  Jacob,  wounded  at  Jacks  Shop. 

Diffendiver,  Benjamin. 

Dugans,  

Dugans,  

Daugherty,  William,  died  from  exposure  in  Beverly  raid. 

Everhart,  Newton. 

Everhart,  Jackson,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 

Eddy,  Theodore. 

Everhart,  Thomas. 

Fenwick,  William. 

Fenwick,  Ignatius,  wounded  at  Beverly. 

Fry,  Marshall. 

Fry,  Jesse. 

Fugerson,  Charles. 

Fugett,  George. 

Flowers,  Frank. 

Ginn,  C.  H. 

Glaze,  Henry,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 

Grove,  Josiah. 

Heitt,  J.  T.,  wounded  at  Port  Republic;  dead. 

Herbert,  William. 

Hunter,  George. 

Huntsberry,  Jacob. 

Hilliard,  Jacob. 

Harris,  Sulton,  killed  at  Reams  Station. 

Jenkins,  John,  mortally  wounded  near  Richmond. 

Jones,  Charles,  wounded  near  Richmond. 

Kaufman,  G.,  dead. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  461 

Kramer,  William,  wounded  at  Second  Manassas. 

Keefer,  Frederick. 

Loge,  Jacob. 

Lupton,  John,  killed  at  Edenburg. 

Leopard,  William. 

McDonald,  Samuel,  wounded. 

McDonald,  James. 

McDonald,  Joseph. 

Miller,  Dudley. 

Miller,  Robert,  wounded. 

Marker,  J.  M. 

Marshall,  Edward. 

Meade,  James. 

Pitman,  Archie. 

Pitman,  John. 

Pitman,  Joseph. 

Pitzer,  Charles. 

Pitzer,  Alexander. 

Patterson,  Newton. 

Patterson,  Henry,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 

Pitcher,  William. 

Perry,  Joseph. 

Piper,  Calvin,   wounded   at   Patterson's   Creek   and   killed   at 

Winchester. 
Piper,  William. 

Rudolph,  Joseph,  killed  in  the  Wilderness. 
Rudolph,  N. 
Roderick,  Thomas. 
Russell,  J.  W. 
Reed,  W.  E. 
Shank,  Henry  C. 
Shull,  Briscoe. 
Snapp,  Sydner. 
Shrout,  Lewis. 
Shroad,  David. 
Shroad,  George. 


462  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Sperry,  W.  S. 

Stump,  Calvin. 

Sydnor,  Fauntleroy. 

Sydnor,  Cyrus. 

Strieker,  Robert. 

Shepherd,  I.  N.,  badly  wounded  at  Brandy  Station. 

Sharley,  John. 

Tanquary,  Henry. 

White,  John. 

Wright,  Joseph. 

Wisecarver,  A. 

Yolle,  J.  P.,  wounded  badly  at  Kernstown. 

Yeakley,  Martin. 

COMPANY  D. 

(Furnished  by  A.  L.  Osbourn.) 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  H.  W.  Kearney,  wounded ;  dead. 

First  Lieut.  George  Engle,  dead. 

Second  Lieut.  J.  W.  James,  wounded ;  Wyoming,  Jones  county, 

Iowa. 

Third  Lieut.  Benjamin  Lucas,  killed  in  Cattle  raid. 
First  Sergt.  Charles  Haines,  wounded ;  Waynesboro,  Va. 
Second  Sergt.  John  Allen,  dead. 
Third  Sergt.  J.  W.  McCleary,  wounded;  dead. 
Fourth  Sergt.  G.  W.  Watson,  prisoner;  Parkersburg,  W.  Va. 
Fifth  Sergt.  Andrew  Higgins,  dead. 
First  Corp.  James  Allen,  Summit  Point,  W.  Va. 
Second  Corp.  J.  W.  Coffinbarger,  Shepherdstown,  W.  Va. 
Third  Corp.  E.  C.  Deck,  dead. 
Fourth  Corp.  A.  L.  Osbourn,  prisoner;  Shenandoah  Junction, 

W.  Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  463 

PRIVATES. 

Athey,  James,  prisoner;  Coffeeville,  Kans. 

Adams,  W.  A.,  dead. 

Andrews,  John,  dead. 

Andrews,  Daniel,  prisoner;  Louisiana,  Mo. 

Brubaker,  Isaac,  dead. 

Brantner,  George,  dead. 

Bane,  Garrett,  dead. 

Burley,  P. 

Banks,  Washington,  dead. 

Badger,  John. 

Backus,  H.  C,  prisoner;  dead. 

Bowers,  George  W.,  dead. 

Barnhart,  George,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Caton,  George  W.,  prisoner;  dead. 

Conrad,  Nathaniel,  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 

Conrad,  Alexander,  wounded ;  Harrisonburg,  Va. 

Cook,  George,  killed. 

Cook,  James,  prisoner;  dead. 

Clymer,  Daniel,  killed. 

Clymer,  Frank,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Chambers,  I.  M.,  dead. 

Currie,  Charles,  wounded ;  dead. 

Dickson,  J.  C.,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Dodson,  Thomas,  killed. 

Deck,  Frederick,  prisoner;  Spencer,  O. 

Elliott,  Charles,  killed. 

Engle,  Benjamin,  prisoner;  Alva,  Wyo. 

Furrey,  John,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Furrey,  Martin,  Kearneysville,  W.  Va. 

Fraley,  David,  wounded;  Molers  Crossroads,  W.  Va. 

Fraley,  James,  Snyders  Mills,  W.  Va. 

Flanagan,  William,  dead. 

Farnsworth,  John  B.,  Summit  Point,  W.  Va. 

Frazier,  James,  dead. 


464  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Gall,  George,  wounded;  whereabouts  unknown. 

Gay,  James,  dead. 

Hipsley,  Thomas,  wounded ;  prisoner ;  dead. 

Hicks,  J.  W.,  killed. 

Hess,  Charles,  wounded ;  dead. 

Henkle,  D.  Grove,  wounded;  dead. 

Higgins,  Owen,  wounded;  whereabouts  unknown. 

Hayslett,  William,  Middleway,  W.  Va. 

Hayslett,  John,  Middleway,  W.  Va. 

Hagley,  George  H.,  wounded;  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 

Hough,  Mason,  wounded ;  dead. 

Hendricks,  Daniel  W.,  Uvilla,  W.  Va. 

Hendricks,  Tobias,  Shepherdstown,  W.  Va. 

Hendricks,  J.  M.,  wounded ;  Molers  Crossroads,  W.  Va. 

Hoffman,  David,  killed. 

Hoffman,  George,  dead. 

Hoffman,  John,  dead. 

Hanby,  William,  dead. 

Hudson,  Charles,  dead. 

Hastings,  Daniel  B.,  dead. 

Herr,  E.  G.  W.,  dead. 

Hartman,  George,  prisoner;  dead 

Holmes,  David  C.,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Heckroach,  William,  dead. 

Halpin,  Robert,  dead. 

House,  Samuel,  dead. 

James,  James  W.,  Wyoming,  Iowa. 

Johnson,  William,  killed. 

Johnson,  E.  C.,  dead. 

Johnson,  George,  wounded;  Leetown,  W.  Va. 

Kilmer,  Harry,  dead. 

Knott,  Charles  H.,  dead. 

Kephart,  W.  H.  H,  dead. 

Kephart,  Jacob,  Duffields,  W.  Va. 

Keys,  J.  Richard,  dead. 

Keys,  James,  dead. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  465 

Kisner,  Joseph,  dead. 

Knott,  George  S.,  Molers  Crossroads,  W.  Va. 
Lewis,  John,  prisoner;  dead. 
Lewis,  David,  prisoner;  dead. 

Leopold,  Andrew,  prisoner;  executed  as  a  spy  by  order  Gen 
eral  Dix. 

Licklider,  John  C,  dead. 

Licklider,  Frank,  wounded;  whereabouts  unknown. 
Licklider,  Joseph  Seiss,  wounded ;  Roanoke,  Va. 
Loudon,  John,  prisoner ;  Molers  Crossroads,  W.  Va. 
Lambert,  Charles  O.,  Martinsburg,  W.  Va. 
Melvin,  William,  Shepherdstown,  W.  Va. 
Morningstar,  Charles,  killed. 
Minghinna,  Joseph,  Martinsburg,  W.  Va. 
Moore,  George,  dead. 
Melvin,  James,  Halltown,  W.  Va. 
More,  Bart,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Moler,  D.  Griff,  dead. 
Moler,  Rollin,  prisoner ;  killed. 
Moler,  Raleigh,  Uvilla,  W.  Va. 
Moler,  George,  dead. 
Moler,  Jacob  S.,  Bakerton,  W.  Va. 
Moler,  H.  Clay,  dead. 
Moler,  William,  Bakerton,  W.  Va. 
Moler,  Newton,  wounded ;  prisoner ;  Bolivar,  W.  Va. 
Morgan,  Frank,  dead. 
Mackin,  Patrick,  prisoner;  Richmond,  Va. 
Merritt,  Henry,  Ilchester,  Md. 
McBee,  William,  dead. 

McGarry,  James  W.,  prisoner ;  Shenandoah  Junction,  W.  Va. 
Nichols,  Lewis,  Halltown,  W.  Va. 
Osbourn,  George,  Shepherdstown,  W.  Va. 
Osbourn,  James  B.,  wounded,  Shenandoah  Junction,  W.  Va. 
Osbourn,  R.  L.,  prisoner ;  wounded ;  Leetown,  W.  Va. 
Ogden,  John  J.,  Parkersburg,  W.  Va. 
Polly,  Samuel,  dead. 


466  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Patten,  James,  Harper's  Ferry,  W.  Va. 

Prather,  Charles,  dead. 

Prather,  Dent,  prisoner;  Leetown,  W.  Va. 

Pretzman,  Wallace,  dead. 

Roberts,  Robert,  wounded;  dead. 

Roberts,  James,  Leetown,  W.  Va. 

Reed,  Samuel,  whereabouts  unknown. 

Ronemous,  George,  dead. 

Reinhart,  Phil,  Shepherdstown,  W.  Va. 

Reinhart,  William,   wounded ;   prisoner ;    Shepherdstown,    W. 

Va. 

Ritter,  James,  dead. 

Rutherford,  Thomas,  Shepherdstown,  W.  Va. 
Roe,  George,  dead. 
Smith,  William,  Bolton,  Miss. 
Smith,  George,  wounded;  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 
Strider,  Howard,  prisoner;  dead. 
Simpson,  John  T.,  wounded ;  Airmont,  Va. 
Shirley,  James,  dead. 

Swimley,  H.  Harrison,  Summit  Point,  W.  Va. 
Swimley,  J.  Samuel,  Brucetown,  Via. ;  wounded  twice. 
Shewbridge,  John  H.,  dead. 
Staley,  William,  prisoner ;  Selma,  Cal. 
Slavin,  John,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Show,  Collin,  Shepherdstown,  W.  Va. 
Snyder,  James,  killed. 
Snyder,  John,  dead. 
Ware,  Richard,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Wright,  James,  dead. 
Watson,  William,  killed. 
Watson,  Eph,  wounded;  Leetown,  W.  Va. 
Welch,  Michael,  whereabouts  unknown. 
Watson,  Bart,  Middleway,  W.  Va. 
Whittington,  James,  Duffields,  W.  Va. 
Wintermoyer,  William,  dead. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  467 

Wilson,  John,  dead. 

Zombro,  Isaac,  Middleway,  W.  Va. 

COMPANY  E. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  James  Marshall. 
First  Lieut.  J.  C.  McKay. 
Second  Lieut.  Thomas  Marshall. 
Second  Lieut.  James  Marshall. 

PRIVATES. 

Bowman,  W.  H. 

Conrad,  W.  B. 

Bowman,  Allen. 

Berryman,  W.  A. 

Strother,  John  A. 

Boyd,  M.  A.,  Clarke. 

Amiss,  J.  B.,  Winchester,  shoemaker. 

Cullers,  L.  H. 

Bolen,  A.  R.,  dead. 

Brewer,  J.  W.,  Shenandoah. 

Berryman,  George,  killed. 

Berryman,  Thomas,  killed. 

Bowman,  John. 

Bauserman,  W.  H. 

Brown,  J.  W. 

Bushong,  James. 

Bushong,  Calvin. 

Bushong,  E.  M. 

Bushong,  Mark. 

Biedler,  Jacob. 

Berryman,  W.  A. 

Brannan,  A.  J. 


468  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Crabill,  Silas,  New  Market. 

Castillo,  John. 

Derflinger,  James,  Winchester,  Va. 

Delinger,  John,  Middletown,  Va. 

Fox,  Sidney. 

French,  James  H. 

Forsyth,  William,  dead;  Winchester,  Va. 

Green,  E.  A.,  dead ;  Winchester,  Va. 

Garrett,  R.  M.,  Galveston. 

Hottle,  Nathaniel,  Frederick,  Va. 

Hyde,  Peter  S.,  Piedmont,  W.  Va. 

Hall,  David. 

Hall,  Jeff. 

Hall,  Elijah. 

Hall,  Wesley. 

Hockman,  Henry. 

Jenkins,  Gabriel. 

Johnson,  Joseph. 

Kelley,  Patrick. 

Knight,  George,  Winchester,  Va. 

Keiser,  Edwin. 

Kern,  Hy. 

Legg,  Bushrod. 

Lambert,  William. 

Lichliter,  Wayman. 

Lake,  A. 

Legg,  J.  B.,  Georgetown,  D.  C. 

Miller,  David. 

Mills,  Robert. 

Mills,  John. 

McDonald,  George. 

Mclnturff,  James. 

Marshall,  James. 

Marshall,  Thomas. 

Marshall,   Charles. 

Marshall,  Alfred. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  469 


Maddox,  R.  B. 
Maddox,  C.  J. 
Maddox,  J.  W. 
Maddox,  W.  B. 

Maddox,  J.  N. 
Maddox,  T.  S. 
McKens,  H. 
Mills,  Charles. 
Majers,  Hy.  Coleman. 
Pence,  Lemuel. 
Painter,  W.  H. 
Pickrell,  Hy.  C. 
Pickrell,  George. 
Rucker,  Samuel. 
Rouzee,  Benjamin. 
Riley,  R.  V. 
Ryman,  Isaac. 
Ryman,  George. 
Smith,  Ch. 
Smith,  John. 
Smith,  A.  M. 
Silmond,  Richard. 
Shipe,  Jacob. 
Strickler,  Abram. 
Strickler,  Martin. 
Smoot,  Philip. 
Sealves,  George. 
Sealcock,  George. 
Wright,  A.  M. 
Wright,  Silas. 
Williams,  William. 


COMPANY  F. 


This  company  was  composed  for  the  most  part  of  Mary- 
landers.     Its  first  captain  was  Harry  Gilmore,  and  the  next 


47°  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

James  Clarke.  First  lieutenant,  Warner  Welsh;  second  lieu 
tenant,  Maury  Hurst,  of  Jefferson  county,  Virginia;  orderly 
sergeant,  Samuel  Hansburger,  of  Harrisonburg,  Va.  The 
company  was  not  strong  numerically,  but  was  composed  of 
splendid  fighting  men,  and  it  is  unfortunate  no  record  of  its 
brilliant  achievements  on  detached  service  and  with  the  brigade 
has  been  obtainable,  and  that  no  roll  of  officers  and  men  seems 
to  have  been  preserved.  Harry  Gilmore  in  his  book,  "Four 
Years  in  the  Saddle,"  devoted  almost  every  page  of  it  to  his 
own  personal  exploits,  mentions  Company  F  only  once,  and 
does  not  mention  the  name  of  officer  or  private  as  having 
served  in  it.  Private  John  H.  Cook,  whose  residence  is  not 
given,  and  W.  H.  Richardson,  of  Austin,  Tex.,  are  the  only 
privates  reported.  The  latter  was  wounded  in  the  Wilderness, 
was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  in  a  company  of  the  Second 
Maryland  Battalion,  in  which  he  served  until  the  surrender. 

COMPANY  G. 

A  partial  roll  of  this  company  is  furnished  by  Lieut.  W.  F. 
Anderson,  of  Covington,  Va. : 

OFFICERS. 

Capt.  A.  M.  Willis. 
First  Lieut.  A.  C.  Swindler. 
Second  Lieut.  W.  F.  Anderson. 
Third  Lieut.  John  Eastham. 

At  the  reorganization  Willis  resigned  and  A.  C.  Swindler 
was  made  captain ;  W.  F.  Anderson,  first  lieutenant ;  Eastham, 
second  lieutenant,  and  W.  H.  Brownell,  third  lieutenant.  Lieu 
tenant  Anderson,  a  most  gallant  officer,  was  practically  the 
commander  of  this  company  throughout  the  war,  from  Buck- 
ton  Station  to  Appomattox. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  471 

PRIVATES. 


Samuel  J.  Spindle,  dead. 

Sergt.  Samuel  Van  Horn,  dead. 

Sergt.  R.  J.  Wood. 

Turner,  Jordan. 

Turner,  Thomas. 

Carter,  F.  Pendleton. 

Howard,  H.  R. 

Anderson,  H.  B. 

Dodson,  William. 

Dodson,  Lloyd. 

Dodson,  Stephen. 

Finchams,  Jack. 

Pierce,  Brock. 

Hackley,  James. 

Priest,  Mason. 

Bearing,  James  A. 

Fincham,  Fidler. 

Grigsby,  Elijah. 

Kirby,  Thomas. 

Schwartz,  Thomas. 

Schwartz,  John. 

Partlow,  Leonard. 

Jenkins,  Mat. 

Rosson,  John. 

Fogg,  Joseph. 

Baggarly,  Charles. 

Weakley,  James  K. 

Byers, . 


472  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

COMPANY  H. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  Emanuel  Sipe,  wounded  in  Wilderness,  May,  1864;  Val 
ley,  October,  1864;  held  at  Fort  Delaware  three  months; 
made  lieutenant-colonel  in  1864  and  placed  in  command 
of  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry;  captured  in  1865  by  Sheri 
dan's  army. 

First  Lieut.  E.  C.  Randolph,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station, 
1863,  and  at  Cold  Harbor. 

Second  Lieut.  Joseph  Kratzer,  taken  prisoner  and  held  at 
Point  Lookout  and  at  Charleston. 

Third  Lieut.  John  R.  Simpson,  resigned  January,  1863. 

Fourth  Lieut.  J.  W.  Keller,  resigned  August,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  Casper  H.  Arehart,  killed  near  Ashland,  Va., 
first  day  of  June,  1864. 

Third  Lieut.  O.  P.  Horn,  wounded  in  battle  near  Richmond, 
Va.,  captured  and  held  a  prisoner  at  Fort  Delaware; 
promoted  lieutenant  late  in  the  war. 

First  Sergt.  W.  H.  Arehart. 

Second  Sergt.  Daniel  Garber. 

Third  Sergt.  John  Altoffer. 

Fourth  Sergt.  John  A.  Ary. 

Fourth  Sergt.  John  W.  Huffman,  wounded  in  the  second  bat 
tle  of  Manassas. 

First  Corp.  Martin  Holsinger,  wounded  and  died  in  hospital, 
October,  1863. 

Second  Corp.  Thomas  J.  Perry,  wounded  at  Little  Washing 
ton,  and  held  prisoner  until  after  the  war. 

Third  Corp.  Jacob  Baker. 

Fourth  Corp.   Samuel  Crann. 

Third  Corp.  Abraham  Brunk. 

Fourth  Corp.  Solon  M.  Bowman,  late  in  the  war. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  473 

PRIVATES. 

Altaffer,  J.  M.,  Independence,  Kans. 

Altoffer,  Joseph,  dead. 

Altoffer,  William. 

Altoffer,  Martin,  dead. 

Alford,  Robert. 

Arehart,  Nason,  died  from  an  injury  received  from  a  horse  in 

1865. 

Adams,  George  W. 
Arehart,  W.  Harvey. 
Brown,  John  M. 
Brannaman,  Milkiah. 
Baker,  Isaac,  died  since  the  war. 
Baker,  Samuel,  died  since  the  war. 
Brooks,  John,  died  since  the  war. 
Brooks,  Hess. 

Bateman,  Elijah,  died  in  hospital  in  1864. 
Bouman,  David  H.,  died  in  1897. 
Bouman,  Casper. 
Bouman,  J.  W. 
Bouman,  Socrates. 
Bouman,  John  S. 
Bouman,  Ephraim. 
Bouman,  Berryman  T. 

Bowman,  Franklin  M.,  wounded  at  Cedar  Creek  in  1864. 
Bare,  John  S. 
Bare,  David. 
Bowman,  Alpheus  M.,  Salem  Via.;  captured  March  I,  1865; 

held  until  war  closed. 
Bowman,  Paul  C. 

Bright,  John,  died  in  hospital  in  1864. 
Bowman,  S.  S.,  wounded  at  High  Bridge  in  1865. 
Cool,  Littington,  captured  at  Cold  Harbor;  held  as  prisoner 

until  after  the  war. 
Carpenter,  W.  J. 


474  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Crann,  John  S. 

Clatterbuck,  William. 

Dundore,  Samuel. 

Dundore,  David. 

Dinkle,  Calvin. 

Banner,  David,  killed  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  in  1864. 

Dovel,  Lucious. 

Ettinger,  William,  died  since  the  war. 

Fifer,  Jerry,  died  since  the  war. 

Fitch,  Buck. 

Frankum,  Walker. 

Frankum,  John. 

Fately,  Sylvanus. 

Gowl,  Daniel,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station  in  June  9th,  1863. 

Gowl,  Peter. 

Gowl,  William. 

Grandstaff,  Branson,  died  since  the  war. 

Glovier,  Madison. 

Glovier,  J.  H. 

Groves,  William  H.,  wounded  at  Buckton  Station. 

Holsinger,  John  D.,  died  since  the  war. 

Holsinger,  Samuel,  died  since  the  war. 

Holsinger,  Peter  P.,  captured  at  Berryville,  Va. 

Holsinger,  Abraham,  died  since  the  war. 

Huffman,  Joseph  H.,  died  since  the  war. 

Hile,  Samuel,  died  in  hospital  in  1864. 

Hinegardner,  Jacob. 

Holsinger,  Silas  J. 

Hawkins,  W.  H. 

Hawkins,  Jacob,  died  since  the  war. 

Hidecker,  William,  died  in  hospital  in  1863. 

Jones,  Adam,  died  in  1863. 

Jimison,  John  W.,  died  since  the  war. 

Jennings,  Dallas,  wounded  twice  and  died  since  the  war  in 

Texas. 
Keller,  Phillip,  died  since  the  war. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  475 

Lacky,  Robert. 

Loker,  Thomas,  died  since  the  war. 

Lairy,  John,  wounded  near  Woodstock. 

Long,  Cooney. 

Long,  Samuel. 

Myres,  E.  P. 

Moore,  John  H.,  died  in  hospital  in  1863. 

Maston,  John. 

May,  Joseph  F. 

Miller,  Jacob,  died  since  the  war. 

McLaughlin,  Joseph. 

Moyers,  Jacob,  died  in  1863. 

Naras,  Patrick,  wounded  at  Fairmont  and  held  prisoner  until 

after  the  war. 

Neff,  Washington  L.,  died  in  hospital  at  Harrisonburg  in  1864. 
Orebaugh,  William  H. 
Oaks,  Dick,  died  since  the  war. 
Painter,  Allen,  died  since  the  war. 
Painter,  Robert. 
Painter,  Romannus. 
Phillips,  John. 

Phillips,  Nathaniel,  killed  in  battle  of  the  Wilderness. 
Plecker,  William. 
Pitt,  Samuel. 
Painter,  Uriah. 

Ryman,  Samuel  A.,  wounded  near  Cedar  Creek. 
Roller,  Henry,  wrounded  twice  and  died  in  1907. 
Roller,  Emanuel,  wounded  and  died  in  1907. 
Roller,  Peter. 

Rinker,  Erasmus,  died  since  the  war. 
Ritchie,  Polk. 
Ritchie,  Dallas. 

Ritchie,  George,  died  since  the  war. 
Ritchie,  Joseph. 
Rice,  Bram.  M. 
Rice,  Joseph. 


476  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Strickler,  B.  F.,  wounded  at  Wilderness  Tavern  and  died  since 

the  war. 

Slusser,  Samuel,  wounded  in  battle  of  the  Wilderness  in  1864. 
Slusser,  William,  died  in  1863. 
Saufley,  Joseph,  died  after  the  war. 
Saufley,  William. 
Sherman,  D.  W. 
Showalter,  Samuel. 
Stover,  Jacob. 

Sylvins,  Moses,  wounded  and  died  since  the  war. 
Spader,  John,  died  in  1906. 
Smith,  Allen. 
Trobough,  John. 
Treavy,  J.  C. 

Will,  William  A.,  died  since  the  war. 
Will,  Nason. 

White,  Milton,  died  since  the  war. 
Whitesell,  Jacob,  killed  at  Hawe's  Shop  in  1864. 
Wine,  John. 
Wine,  William. 
Wilberger,  David. 
Smith,  Billy. 


Marshall,  Thomas. 


Colored. 


Smith,  Noah. 

This  company  was  highly  complimented  by  Genl.  J.  E.  B. 
Stuart  for  its  gallantry  and  efficiency.  It  was  especially  noted 
for  its  fine  dismounted  fighting. 

COMPANY  I. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  Charles  T.  O'Ferral,  transferred  and  promoted  to  a 
colonelcy ;  congressman  from  Virginia  and  Governor  of 
the  State. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  477 

First  Lieut.  Granville  Eastham,  desperately  wounded  at 
Brandy  Station;  dead. 

Second  Lieut.  John  R.  Rust,  wounded ;  had  six  horses  shot 
under  him;  this  splendid  officer  served  from  the  begin 
ning  of  the  war  under  Ashby  to  the  end;  his  only 
absence  being  60  days  in  prison. 

First  Sergt.  John  W.  Ashby,  killed  at  Appomattox  in  last 
charge  in  1865. 

Second  Sergt.  James  Grubbs,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May 
5th,  1864. 

Third  Sergt.  Peter  F.  Cooley,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness, 
May  5th,  1864. 

Fourth  Sergt.  Joseph  R.  Coomes. 

First  Corp.  Horace  M.  Wade. 

Second  Corp.  Bushrod  Rust,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May 
5th,  1864. 

Third  Corp.  John  W.  Strother. 

Fourth  Corp.  John  W.  McKay. 

PRIVATES. 

Ash,  George  A.,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 
Ash,  Buckner,   wounded   near   Petersburg  in   Reams   Station 

fight. 

Ashby,  Lewis. 

Ashby,  Russell,  killed  at  Appomattox  in  last  charge;  recruit. 
Baker,  Jonas,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness  in  1864. 
Biggs,  Elias. 
Black,  Henry  A. 
Black,  Benjamin  F.,   wounded   in  the  Wilderness,   May   5th, 

1864. 

Breedlove,  Samuel. 
Brown,  John  T. 
Burk,  Thomas. 
Costello,  Edward. 
Chapman,  J.  A. 


478  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Cooley,  Samuel  C. 

Cooley,  Smith,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 

Coverstone,  Lewis. 

Crawley,  - 

Cunningham,  John  F. 

Davis,  A.  C.,  wounded ;  died  in  prison. 

Eichelberger,  D.  S. 

Furgeson,  Abner,  wounded. 

Flynn,  James  A.,  killed  at  Cranberry  Summit,  in  Jones'  raid 

in  West  Virginia. 
Green,  Casper  W. 
Heiflebower,    Edward,     color-sergeant,      badly     wounded     at 

Brandy  fight. 
Harrison,  William  H. 

Holmes,  William  F.,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 
Haskins,  William  A.,  wounded  at  Buckland. 
Haskins,  Daniel. 
Johnson,  Thomas. 
Kern,  Henry  R. 

Lake,  Enoch  A.,  wounded  at  Jacks  Shop. 
Lake,  John  H.,  wounded  at  Upperville. 
Long,  Isaac,  wounded  at  Toms  Brook. 
Muman,  William. 

Massie,  Edward  G.,  made  sergeant-major  of  brigade. 
McKay,  Joseph. 
Mitchell,  I.  Ship. 
Oliver,  John  B. 

Oliver,  Alfred,  killed  at  Jacks  Shop. 
Page,  Thomas  D. 

Palmer,  Robert,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station. 
Payne,  Edward  S.,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 
Petty,  Thomas  W. 
Petty,  George  N. 
Powers,  John  W. 

Putnam,  W.  R.  F.,  wounded  in  Trevilians  fight. 
Reid,  John  R. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  479 

Reid,  George  W.,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 

Rice,  Benjamin   F. 

Ridgeway,  Joseph,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 

Ridgeway,  Newton,  wounded  at  Trevilians. 

Reiley,  J.  W. 

Reiley,  J.   M. 

Ruley,  William  A. 

Robinson,  James  T.,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 

Ruffner,  Benjamin  F.,  died  since  the  war. 

Russell,  - 

Santmyers,  D.  M. 

Sherrard,  William. 

Seibert,  George  W. 

Stokes,  Newton,  wounded. 

vStout  George,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station. 

Strother,  George  W. 

Strother  R.   F.,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 

Strother,  John  I. 

Strother,  Wil'iam,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th. 

Strother,  James  W. 

Strother,  Lewis,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station. 

Tally,  John,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station. 

Tolbert,  Charles  W.,  badly  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May 

5th. 

Templeman,  James,  wounded  at  Poolesville,  Md.,  in  1863. 
Thornhill,   Philetus,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station. 
Turner,  James  C,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th. 
Vermillian,  James. 

Warwicks,  John,  wounded  at  Buckland. 
White,  James  W. 
Woodward,  Thomas  E. 
Yuille,  A.  C. 
Yuille,  A.  B. 
Yuille,  Thomas. 


MUSTER  ROLL  OF  THIRTY-FIFTH  VIRGINIA  CAV 
ALRY    (WHITE'S    BATTALION),    LAUREL 
BRIGADE,  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN 
VIRGINIA. 


Colonel  Commanding  Elijah  V.  White,  of  Leesburg,  Va.,  sev 
eral  times  severely  wounded;  died  January  nth,  1907. 

Major  George  N.  Ferneyhough,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  resigned 
in  1864. 

Major  F.  M.  Myers,  succeeding  Ferneyhough;  was  formerly 
captain  of  Company  C;  died  October  iQth,  1906. 

COMPANY  A. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  F.  M.  Myers,  wounded  at  Mount  Clifton,  October  7th, 

1864;  died  October,  1906. 
First  Lieut.  William  F.  Barrett,  captured  at  Brandy  Station, 

June  9th,  1863;  died  since  the  war. 
Second  Lieut.  R.    C.   Marlow,   wounded   at   Trevilians ;    died 

since  the  war. 
Third  Lieut.  B.  F.  Conrad,  lost  leg  in  the  Wilderness;  died 

since  the  war. 
First  Sergt.  Thomas  S.  Grubb,  killed  at  Toms  Brook,  October 

9th,  1864. 
Second  Sergt.  Edward  L.  Bennett,  lost  leg  at  Trevilians,  June 

nth,  1864;  died  since  the  war. 
Third  Sergt.  John  Dove,  wounded  at  Waterford,  August  27th, 

1862. 

Fourth  Sergt.  George  F.  Everhart,  wounded  in  the  Wilder 
ness,  May  5th,  1864;  living  at  Waterford,  Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  481 

Fifth  Sergt.  Charles  F.  Galloway,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station, 

June  9th,  1863;  living  at  Warrenton,  Va. 
First  Corp.  William  H.  H.  Moreland,  living. 
Second  Corp.  J.  W.  Whaley,  Herndon,  Va. 
Third  Corp.  E.  H.  Tavenner,  wounded  at  Toms  Brook ;  dead. 
Fourth  Corp.  J.  J.  Jenkins,  Dranesville,  Va. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson,  Colmore. 

Barker,  Rufus  C. 

Bicksler,  John  F.,  wounded,  May  5th,  1864;  dead. 

Ballenger,  Benjamin  F. 

Bales,  Charles  A. 

Buzzard,  O.  M. 

Barrett,  C.  Boyd,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th ;  South 

Dakota. 
Brown,  - 

Brown,  William,  killed  at  Monks  Neck  in  1864. 
Bussard,  Lycurgus,  killed  at  Glenmore  in  1864. 
Conner,  Joseph  E.,  dead. 
Carper,  Philip  Wr.,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station;  Dranesville, 

Va. 

Coe,  Aurelius. 
Cuizen,  William  T.,  dead. 
Conrad,  Jonathan  T.,  dead. 
Curry,  William  F.,  dead. 
Crumbaker,  Samuel   W.,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th, 

1864. 

Chadwell,  John  R. 
Cook,  Alfred  M. 

Craig,  George  Wr.,  wounded  at  High  Bridge;  Middleburg,  Va. 
Cockerill,  A.  J. 
Debutts,  John. 
Dove,  Joseph. 
Darr,  James  W. 


482  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Douglas,  John. 

Douglas,  Samuel  E.,  killed. 

Douglas,  Edward. 

Douglas,  James  R.;  killed  at  Neersville,  Va.,  February,  1865. 

Douglas,  Theodore,  killed. 

Douglas,  Ross. 

Drish,  Edwin,  killed  at  Leesburg,  July,  1864. 

Donohoe,  Legrand. 

Ellmore,  John  D. 

Ellmore,  George. 

Edwards,  William,  killed  at  Trevilians,  June  nth,  1864. 

Foley,  Fenton,  wounded  at  Greenland  Gap. 

Freeman,  James,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station. 

Fletcher,  John  W.,  wounded  at  High  Bridge,  April  6th,  1865. 

Fletcher,  James  H.,  teamster. 

Fletcher,  John  T.,  teamster. 

Grubb,  H. 

Grubb,  T.,  killed  at  Toms  Brook. 

Galloway,  Charles. 

Galloway,  William. 

Garrett,  Albert  T. 

Householder,  William  O.,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 

Hayes,  Brook,  killed  at  Waterford. 

Herndon,  Joseph,  killed  in  the  Wilderness  in  1864. 

Goard,  John,  wounded  at  Mount  Clifton  in  1864. 

Howard,  John,  wounded  at  Enon  Church  in  1864. 

Harding,  Richard. 

Harding,  Albert. 

Harper,  James  Wv  living  in  the  West. 

Hibbs,  Henry  C. 

Horseman,  William  H. 

Hancock,  James  W. 

Hutchenson,  John  R. 

Hummer,  Braden. 

Hummer,  Henry  O.,  killed  at  Parkers  Store,  November,  1863. 

Hutchinson,  George  C. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  483 

Jenkins,  Samuel,  killed  at  Poolesville  in  1862. 

Jacobs,  George  W.,  Leesburg,  Va. 

Jones,  Edward  F.,  wounded  at  Edwards  Ferry  in  1863. 

Kilgore,  Mortimer. 

Kidwell,  James  E.,  Leesburg,  Va. 

Kabrich,  Peter  J.,  mortally  wounded  at  Waterford  in  1862. 

Kane,  Doc. 

Kyle,  William  P.,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station. 

Keighn,  Samuel,  dead. 

Kephart,  John,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness. 

Kephart,  Jasper  C. 

Leslie,  Benjamin  F.,  killed  at  High  Bridge  in  1865. 

Lewis,  Thomas  R. 

Lewis,  John. 

Lyon,  William  L. 

Lee,  Edgar  A. 

Lee,  John  F. 

Lee,  William  W.,  dead. 

Lee,  James  E. 

Luckett,  William  H. 

Lee,  David  J.,  dead. 

Lee,  George,  wounded  at  High  Bridge. 

Mock,  G. 

Moore,  Henry  R.,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th,  1864. 

Marlow,  John  H.,  wounded  at  Sapony  Church  in  1864. 

McCauley,  John  F. 

Mobberly,  John  W.,  murdered  in  Loudoun  in  1865. 

McFarland,  William  A.,  Hamilton,  Va. 

McFarland,  Henry  C.,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station  in  1863. 

McFarland,  Richard. 

Myers,  Thomas  J.,  dead. 

Myers,  Charles  P.,  wounded  at  Thornton's  Mill  in  1863. 

Minor,  Fairfax  C. 

Miller,  George,  courier  for  General  Rosser. 

Muse,  John  W. 

McDonough,  W.  W.,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness  in  1864. 


484  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

O'Neal,  James  W. 

O'Niel,  Edward. 

Orrison,  John  W. 

Oxley,  E.  R.,  dead. 

Pettingall,  D.  C,  wounded  at  Thornton's  Mill  in  1863. 

Presgraves,  Samuel  T.,  killed  at  Monks  Neck  in  1864. 

Presgraves,  Philip. 

Polland,  James  E. 

Pickett,  Enoch  F. 

Palmer,  Mortimer  M. 

Price,  Joseph. 

Prince,  Daniel  L.,  killed  at  Brandy  Station. 

Richards,  Lewis. 

Ryan,  James  M.,  dead. 

Riley,  James. 

Ryan,  Henry  C. 

Ryan,  William. 

Robertson,  Jacob  R.,  wounded  at  Glenmore  in  1862. 

Snoots,  William,  wounded  at  the  Wilderness  in  1864. 

Sellman,  Henry. 

Sheeves,  W.  M.  J. 

Spates,  T.  G.,  wounded  at  Greenland  Gap;  Hillsboro,  Va. 

Shugars,  C.  H. 

Stephenson,  John,  wounded  at  Snickers  Gap  in  1862;  dead. 

Simpson,  Henry. 

Survick,  George  W.,  dead. 

Sloper,  John  T. 

Smith,  James  B.  N.,  dead. 

Sampsell,  Henry  G. 

Sinclair,  John  H. 

Simpson,  John  F.,  dead. 

Saffer,  B.  F.,  dead. 

Tribby,  James  W. 

Tribby,  John  T. 

Tipper,  Thomas  C.,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  I2th,  1864. 

Titus,  William,  wounded  at  Toms  Brook;  dead. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  485 

Tavenner,  Edward,  Leesburg,  Va. 

Van  Devanter,  T.  H.,  Wheatland,  Va. 

Wenner,  C.  C. 

Walker,  Charles  C. 

Walker,  William  T. 

Walker,  John. 

Whaley,  C.  M.  C. 

Whaley,  Charles  A. 

Wycoff,  A.  C.,  wounded  in  Wilderness ;  taken  prisoner  October 

19,  1864. 

White,  John  W.,  wounded  at  High  Bridge. 
Wooten,  D. 

COMPANY  B. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  G.  W.  Christwell,  Montgomery  county ;  dead. 

First  Lieut.  J.  R.  Crown,  Frederick  county ;  dead. 

Second  Lieut.  Nicholas  Dorsey,  Frederick  county;  dead. 

Third  Lieut.   S.  C.  White,  dead. 

First  Sergt.  H.  O.  Sellman,  Leesburg,  Va. 

Second  Sergt.  G.  Henderson. 

Third  Sergt.  William  Fitch,  Montgomery  county. 

Fourth  Sergt.  Charles  Green,  Montgomery  county. 

Fifth  Sergt.  Alonzo  Sellman,  Montgomery  county;  wounded 

in  the  Wilderness ;  dead. 

First  Corp.  Frank  Williams,  Poolesville,  Md. 
Second  Corp.  John  Craft,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Third  Corp.  Robert  T.  Bade,  Illinois. 
Scholl,  C.  E.,  Indiana. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,  ,  Virginia. 

Alridge,  Robert,  Virginia. 

Butler,  Charles  E.,  Montgomery  county. 


486  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Butler,  George,  Virginia. 

Bezant,  William  T.,  Frederick  county. 

Beall,  Thomas,  Frederick  county. 

Brisnan,  John,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Brady,  Edward,  Frederick  county. 

Boswell,  William,  Loudoun  county,  Va. 

Carlyle,  David,  Gaithersburg,  Md. 

Carlyle,  William,  Montgomery  county. 

Coberth,  David,  Washington. 

Crown,  John  O.,  Berryville,  Va. 

Crown,  Frederick,  dead. 

Cantwell,  Michael,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Christwell,  William,  Adamstown,  Md. 

Christwell,  Edward,  afterwards  made  first  lieutenant. 

Cecil,  

Davis,  James,  Virginia. 

Davison,  John,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Dade,  Lee,  Leesburg,  Va. 

Darne,  William. 

Durham,  James,  dead. 

Elgin,  John  O.,  Virginia. 

Eader,  Charles,  Frederick  county. 

Eader,  Lewis,  Frederick  county. 

Fitzsimmons,  Nicholas,  Frederick  county. 

Gordon,  ,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Grahame,  William,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Gallager,  —     — ,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Heffner,  Stephen,  Loudoun  county,  Va. 

Hays,  R.  P.,  Dickerson,  Md. 

Hays,  Brook,  killed ;  Montgomery  county. 

Harewood,  Thomas,  Adamstown. 

Herbert,  William,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station ;  dead. 

Harding,  Abraham,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Jones,  Benjamin,  Dickerson,  Md. 

Key,  Daniel,  wounded  at  Parkers  Store ;  dead. 

Lamar,  Ab.,  wounded  at  Lovettsville ;  Frederick  county. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  487 

Lowrey,  James,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Martin,  Pinkney,  dead;  Baltimore,  Md. 

Magaha,  Joseph. 

McCormick,  -  — ,  killed  at  Mount  Clifton  in  1864;  Mont 
gomery  county. 

Morris,  John,  wounded  at  High  Bridge;  dead. 

Morris,  George,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Maxwell,  John,  Frederick  county. 

Needhammer,  Lewis,  wounded  at  Toms  Brook;  dead;  Balti 
more,  Md. 

Oden,  William,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th ;  dead ; 
Frederick  county. 

O'Boyle,  Charles,  Point  of  Rocks,  Md. 

O'Boyle,  James,  dead. 

Orme,  Henry,  wounded  at  Toms  Brook ;  Missouri. 

Orme,  Lindley,  New  Mexico. 

Price,  Elias,  wounded  at  Parkers  Store;  Montgomery  county. 

Phillips,  Crome,  wounded  at  Trevilians ;  dead;  Montgomery 
county. 

Peters,  Thomas,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station ;  Frederick 
county. 

Peter,  J.  P.  C,  Culpeper,  Va. 

Pyles,  Thomas,  Montgomery  county. 

Pyles,  Frank,  Montgomery  county. 

Smith,  Rice,  dead ;  Montgomery  county. 

Smith,  Charles,  wounded  at  Moorefield,  W.  Va. ;  dead ;  Mont 
gomery  county. 

Shehan,  William,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th ;  dead ; 
Baltimore,  Md. 

School,  John,  Indiana. 

Stewart,  Henry,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Stone,  William,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Stallings,  Richmond,  Montgomery  county. 

Tabler,  John,  Frederick  county. 

Thomas,  Edwin,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Thomas,  Frank,  Frederick,  Md. 


488  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Thomas,  Jacob,  Montgomery  county. 

Thomas,  L.,  Montgomery  county. 

Trundle,  Joseph,  Kansas. 

Thomas,  Byron,  wounded  at  Toms  Brook ;  dead. 

Taylor,  Martin,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th ;  dead. 

Van  Bussum,  New  Jersey. 

Veirs,  Boling,  Missouri. 

Veirs,  Elijah,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,    May    6th;    dead; 

Montgomery  county. 
Veirs,  William  S.,  Montgomery  county. 
Vinson,  Joseph,  Missouri. 
White,  J.  C,  Montgomery  county. 
White,  Thomas,  Montgomery  county. 
White,  William,  dead ;  Montgomery  county. 
White,  S.  C.,  afterwards  third  lieutenant ;  dead. 
Welsh,  Edward,  killed  at  Brandy  Station,  June  9th,  1863. 
Yingling,  Zadoe,  Frederick  county. 

COMPANY  C. 

(Furnished  by  Dr.  J.  E.  Copcland,  Round  Hill, 
Loudoun  County,  Va.) 

OFFICERS. 

(Organized  and  mustered  into  service  on  October  28th,  1862, 

by  Col.  Bradley  T.  Johnson.) 

Capt.  Richard  B.  Grubb,  formerly  of  Company  A,  Eighth 
Virginia  Infantry,  killed  at  Waterford,  Va.,  August  ;th, 
1863. 

Second  Capt.  William  Flavins  Dowdell,  formerly  orderly  ser 
geant  Company  A,  Sixth  Virginia  Cavalry ;  died  March 
3Oth,  1888,  in  Loudoun  county,  Va. 

First  Lieut.  Samuel  E.  Grubb,  formerly  of  Loudoun  cavalry, 
Sixth  Virginia;  wounded  and  captured  at  Hillsboro, 
Va.,  January,  1865;  died  in  Texas,  August  4th,  1867. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  489 

Second  Lieut.  Thomas  W.  White,  formerly  lieutenant-colonel 
of  Fifty-sixth  Regiment,  Virginia  Militia ;  captured  and 
exchanged;  joined  Company  C;  killed  in  the  Wilder 
ness,  May  8th,  1864. 

Orderly  Sergt.  William  Hilt  Grubb,  living  at  Hamilton,  Lou- 
doun  county,  Va. 

Second  Sergt.  John  Early  Thompson,  formerly  of  Company 
C,  Seventeenth  Virginia  Infantry;  wounded  in  leg  at 
Frazier's  Farm  in  1862;  served  through  the  war;  living 
at  Round  Hill,  Va. 

Third  Sergt.  Silas  Copeland,  sabre  wound  in  shoulder  at 
Brandy  Station,  June  9th,  1863;  dead. 

Fourth  Sergt.  Eben  Simpson,  wounded  at  Toms  Brook,  Oc 
tober  9th,  1864;  died  since  the  war. 

Fifth  Sergt.  Joseph  S.  Hart,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station,  June 
9th,  1863. 

First  Corp.  Rodney  Matthews,  color-sergeant ;  wounded  at 
High  Bridge,  April  6th,  1865;  lost  right  arm  below 
elbow ;  living  at  Hillsboro,  Va. 

Second  Corp.  William  Flavins  Beans,  living  in  Missouri. 

Third  Corp.  James  M.  Foster,  wounded  at  Greenland  Gap,  W. 
Va.,  February  25th,  1863. 

Fourth  Corp.  E.  Fletcher  Potts,  formerly  first  lieutenant  of 
Company  A,  Eighth  Virginia  Infantry ;  living  in 
Atlanta,  Ga. 

PRIVATES. 

Armstrong,  William  H.,  Missouri. 

Beans,  Aaron  T.,   formerly  of  Company  A,  Eighth  Virginia 

Infantry  ;  wounded  ;  dead. 
Beans,  Elwood   H.,   wounded   at   Toms   Brook,   October  9th, 

1864;  dead. 

Best,  E.  J.,  transferred  to  artillery. 
Birkby,  Collins  T.,  dead. 
Beans,  William  H.,  formerly  of  Company  A,  Eighth  Virginia 

Infantry ;  living  at  Round  Hill,  Va. 


490  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Boling,  John,  died  in  St.  Louis  since  the  war. 

Boling,  William  D.,  died  at  Germantown,  Montgomery  county, 

Md.,  since  the  war. 
Burress,  Thomas,  Maryland. 
Clendening,  William  T.,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th, 

1864;  stiff  arm;  died  at  Hillsboro,  Va.,  since  the  war. 
Clendening,  John  J.,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 
Carlisle,  John  H.,  died  in  Arkansas  since  the  war. 
Campbell,  E.  T.,  from    Mississippi    infantry ;    transferred    to 

artillery. 
Chamblin,  George,   wounded  at  Phillip  Berry's,  near  Neers- 

ville,  Va. ;  died  since  the  war. 
Chamblin,  John   M.,    formerly   major   of   One   Hundred   and 

Thirty-second    Regiment,    Virginia    Militia ;    living    at 

Philomont,  Va. 

Chamblin,  Richard,  died  since  the  war. 
Compton,  J.  Booten,  living  in  Page  county,  Va. 
Compton,  Burrell,  moved  to  Missouri  since  the  war. 
Copeland,  James  R.,  Mexican  War  veteran;  died  May  29th, 

1901. 

Copeland,  Dr.  James  Edward,  living  at  Round  Hill,  Va. 
Canada,  Thomas. 

Davisson,  John  William,    formerly   second   sergeant  of  com 
pany,  Eighth  Virginia  Infantry;  wounded  in  shoulder 

at  High  Bridge,  April  6th,  1865  J  living  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Dorrell,  James  A.,  living  at  Round  Hill,  Va. 
DeButts,  Welby,  formerly  of  Sixth  Virginia  Cavalry ;  living 

at  Welbourne,  Va. 
Davis,  Edgar. 

Davis,  William  H.,  discharged  with  leave. 
Douglas,  John,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th,  1864. 
Elmore,  George,  living  at  Purcellville,  Va. 
Elmore,  John  H.,   died  near   Ketoctin   Baptist   Church,   Lou- 

doun  county,  Va.,  March  I4th,  1906. 
Elgin,  Thomas   G.,   wounded   at  Toms   Brook,   October   9th, 

1864;  living  at  Leesburg,  Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  491 

Follin,  Richard,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th,  1864. 
Follin,  J.  N. 

Follin,  Ira,  living  in  Fairfax  county,  Va. 

Fouche,  Sydney,  wounded  at  Greenland  Gap,  W.  Va.,  Feb 
ruary  25th,  1863;  dead. 

Foster,  James  M.,  wounded  at  Greenland  Gap;  dead. 
Fritts,  William,  wounded  at  Glenmore,  Loudoun  county,  Va., 

October  21  st,  1862;  living  near  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 
Fritts,  James,  living  at  Charlestown,  W.  Va. 
Fogg,  Elias  W.,  formerly  of  infantry,  living  at  Shenandoah 

City,  Page  county,  Va. 
Grubb,  John   Caden,   killed   at   Waterford,   Va.,   August  7th, 

1863. 

Grubb,  Joseph  M.,  living  in  Missouri. 
Grubb,  Rev.  James  W.,  pastor  Methodist  Episcopal  Christian 

Science,  Christiansburg,  Va. 
Gooding,  J.  Edward,  died  in  Ohio  in  1906. 
Gooding,  William  D.,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station,  June  9th, 

1863;  killed  at  Hillsboro,  Va.,  January,  1865. 
Graham,  James  M.,  Maryland ;  living  in  Florida. 
Hood,  James,   wounded  at  Glenmore,   Loudoun  county,   Va., 

October  2ist,  1862;  living  at  Purcellville,  Va. 
Hood,  Smith,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Hillsboro,  Va.,  February 

28th,  1863. 
Hammerley,  John  W.,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station,  June  9th, 

1863;  living  at  Hillsboro,  Va. 

Houser,  John  H.,  living  at  Arcola,  Loudoun  county,  Va. 
Hough,  James  W.,  died  at  Middleburg,  Va.,  1865,  on  return 

from  prison. 

Hough,  Thomas  E.,  dead. 
Howell,  Benton  D.,  living  at  Leesburg,  Va. 
Hart,  Joseph  S.,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station ;  dead. 
Henderson,  Charles. 

Jett,  William,  living  at  Rileysville,  Page  county,  Va. 
Jenkins,  Norval,    formerly   of   Company   A,    Eighth   Virginia 

Infantry ;  died  at  Hillsboro,  Va. 


492  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

Jenkins,  Reuben,  living  at  Bakerton,  Jefferson  county,  Va. 

Jones,  William  R.,  formerly  of  Sixth  Virginia  Cavalry ;  living 
in  Oregon. 

Kilgour,  J.  Mortimer,  Maryland;  major  Quartermaster  De 
partment  ;  dead. 

Keith,  E.  J. 

Kilgour,  Franklin,  Maryland ;  living  at  Rockville,  Md. 

Keyes,  Landon  H.,  living  in  Iowa. 

Keith,  William. 

Lay,  Craven  C,  Jiving  at  Hillsboro,  Va. 

Matthews,  Rodney,  wounded  at  High  Bridge. 

Moran,  Thomas  J.,  dead. 

Morrison,  James,  died  at  Front  Royal,  Va.,  since  the  war. 

Morrison,  Richard,  living  in  Rappahannock  county,  Va. 

Marion,  Gabriel,  from  infantry ;  living  in  Missouri. 

Murphy,  J.  Franklin,  living  at  Bluemont,  Va. 

Moffet,  Thomas  J.,  living  at  Herndon,  Va. 

Milburn,  John,  wounded  at  Brandy  Station,  June  Qth,  1863; 
died  at  Purcellville,  Va.,  since  the  war. 

McDaniel,  James  W.,  formerly  of  Company  A,  Eighth  Vir 
ginia  Infantry  ;  wounded  at  Manassas  ;  dead. 

Murphy,  J.  F. 

Neer,  N.  Frank,  living  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Orrison,  George,  living  at  Morrisonville,  Loudoun  county,  Va. 

Price,  Joseph,  company  quartermaster ;  living  at  Berryville, 
Va. 

Price,  Charles  D.,  died  at  Alma,  Page  county,  Va. 

Potts,  William  C,  living  at  Hillsboro,  Va. 

Pierson,  John  S.,  living  in  Fairfax  county,  Va. 

Purcell,  Frank,  formerly  of  Company  A,  Eighth  Virginia  In 
fantry;  died  at  Purcellville,  Va.,  in  1906. 

Roach,  Philip,  drowned  in  Potomac  River,  near  Washington, 
D.  C.,  since  the  war. 

Roberts,  John  D.,  living  at  Milford,  Page  county,  Va. 

Scanlin,  Patrick,  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  since  the  war. 

Simpson,  Thomas  P.,  living  at  Round  Hill,  Va. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  493 

Sexton,  John  W.,  member  of  Seventeenth  Virginia  Infantry, 
wounded  at  Bull  Run,  July  i8th,  1861 ;  honorably  dis 
charged. 

Touche,  Sidney,  wounded  at  Greenland  Gap ;  dead. 

Thompson,  William  Hugh,  mortally  wounded  in  the  Wilder 
ness,  May  6th,  1864. 

Thompson,  Malcolm,  living  at  Bailey's  Crossroads,  Fairfax 
county,  Va. 

Thompson,  Magnus  S.,  wounded  near  Berryville,  Va.,  Novem 
ber  ist,  1862;  Washington,  D.  C. 

Torreyson,  Thomas  N.,  color-sergeant,  wounded  in  the  Wilder 
ness,  May  6th,  1864;  dead. 

Taylor,  Maitland,  wounded,  shot  through  breast  in  the  Wilder 
ness,  May  5th,  1864. 

Tollen,  Richard,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness ;  dead. 

Taylor,   B.  C.,  Maryland. 

Tribsett,  William  H.,  formerly  of  Mississippi  infantry ;  died  of 
yellow  fever  in  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  in  1878. 

Turner,  Creed,  died  in  Fairfax  county,  Va.,  May  iSth,  1906. 

Turner,  William,  a  boy  from  Valley  of  Virginia;  died  in  1866. 

Triplett,  W.  H. 

Triplett,  Manley,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864. 

Tavenner,  Jonah,  died  at  Philomont,  Va.,  since  the  war. 

VanPelt,  N.  Brown,  living  at  Burks  Mill,  Augusta  county,  Va. 

Wilson,  ,  wounded  at  Waterford,  Va.,  August  7th, 

1863;  killed  in  Maryland  September,  1863. 

Wilson,  William,  wounded;  prisoner  from  September  ist, 
1864,  to  February  ist,  1865. 

Wood,  Gip  S.,  Rappahannock  county,  Va. 

White,  John  J.,  wounded  by  sabre  at  Glenmore,  Loudoun 
county,  Va.,  October  2ist,  1862;  afterwards  quartermas 
ter  with  rank  of  major;  died  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

White,  Robert  Hunter,  dead ;  Georgetown,  D.  C. 

\Vhite,  Josiah  Robert,  living  at  Hillsboro,  Va. 


494  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 

COMPANY  D. 
OFFICERS. 

First  Capt.  -          -  Trayhern. 

Second   Capt. —        -  Anderson,   succeeding  Trayhern;   Rock- 

ville,  Md. 

First  Lieut.  -          -  Spangler. 
Second  Lieut.  Samuel  Baker. 

COMPANY  E. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  John  Grabill,  living  at  Woodstock,  W.  Va. ;  wounded 

and  prisoner  for  two  years. 
First  Lieut.  H.  M.  Strickler,  Methodist  preacher  of  Baltimore 

Conference;  wounded  April  2nd,  1865. 
Second  Lieut.  A.  C.  Grubbs,  whereabouts  unknown. 

PRIVATES. 

Brumback,  Isaac  N.,  killed  at  Brandy  Station,  June  9th,  1863. 
Mclnturf,  Marcus,  killed  at  Brandy  Station,  June  9th,  1863. 
Hockman,  Philip  A.,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th,  1864. 
Burnett,  George,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  2Oth,  1864. 
Rogers,  -        — ,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  2Oth,  1864. 

COMPANY  F. 
OFFICERS. 

Capt.  Marcellus  French,  succeeded  Captain  Ferneyhough,  who 

became  major. 
First  Lieut.  -          -  Watts,  killed  at  Brandy  Station,  June  9th, 

1864. 
First  Lieut.  Charles  A.  James,  whereabouts  unknown. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  495 

PRIVATES. 

Grogan, ,  killed  at  Greenland  Gap,  April  25th,  1863. 

Broy,  -   ,  killed  in  the  Wilderness,  May  6th,  1864. 

Rhodes,  ,  killed  at  Hawes  Shop. 

Sinclair,  Charles,  killed  at  Toms  Brook,  October  Qth,  1864. 


MUSTER    ROLL    OF    CHEW'S    BATTERY    (LAUREL 
BRIGADE),  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA. 


OFFICERS. 

Capt.  R.  P.  Chew. 
First  Lieut.  James  W.  Thompson. 
Second  Lieut.  James  H.  Williams. 
Third  Lieut.  John  W.  Carter. 
Fourth  Lieut.  E.  L.  Yancey. 
Orderly  Sergt.  A.  J.  Souder. 
First  Sergt.  George  Phillips. 
Second  Sergt.  John  Kagey. 
Third  Sergt.  Stephen  Miller. 
Fourth  Sergt.  George  Everley. 
First  Corp.  George  M.  Neese. 
Second  Corp.  Carthage  Kendall. 
Third  Corp.  Gregory  Britner. 
Fourth  Sergt.  Newton  Keyes. 
Fifth  Sergt.  Samuel  Williams. 
Sixth  Sergt.  Frank  Riely. 
Seventh  Sergt.  Samuel  Everley. 
Eighth  Sergt.  Mark  Rodeffer. 
Commissary  Sergt.  William  Shaffer. 
Quartermaster  Sergt.  John  Chew. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen  James.  Asberry,  Frank. 

Ambler,  John.  Atkinson,  R.  C. 

Anderson,  George.  Baker,  Samuel. 

Anderson,  William.  Bird,  Derrick. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 


497 


Brook,  J.  A. 
Brooks,  E.  C. 
Brady,  George. 
Brady,  Louis. 
Brownough,  J.  W. 
Baker,  Samuel. 
Blair,  James. 
Brown,  Bailey. 
Brown,  Charles. 

Boston,  

Bowly,  E.  Devereaux. 
Boyd,  Philip  W. 
Bliss,  A. 
Butts,  Samuel. 
Buck,  Willie. 
Burgess,  A.  Bealle. 
Callahan,  George. 

Carpenter,  

Carr,  J.  B. 
Cline,  Samuel. 
Cooper,  


Conrad,  Charles  F. 
Conrad,  Frank  E. 

Crawford,  

Dabney, 

Davis,  Thomas. 
Davis,  George. 
Davis,  Henry. 

Dennis,  

Dawson,  

Deahl,  Henry. 
Deck,  William. 
Deck,  Morgan. 
Deck,  J. 

Dingledine,  Jacob. 
Dash,  George. 


Edmunds,  

Farris,  Moses. 
Fiser,  Jacob. 
Fisher,  Isaac. 
Fitzsimmons,  Matthew. 
Few,  Samuel. 
Fravel,  Henry. 
Fravel,  J.  W. 
Furry,  William. 
Furry,  Van. 
Frazier,  William. 
Furry,  Robert. 
Fultz,  Joe. 
Fultz,  Reuben. 
Fry,  Jesse. 
Gillock,  John. 
Good,  Anthony. 
Golladay,  Perry. 
Green,  John. 
Holliday,  B.  T. 
Hammer,  Junius  B. 
Henry,  J.  W. 
Haas,  Isaac, 
Hoshour,  Robert. 
Homrick,  James. 
Homan,  Hiram  C. 

Higgs,  

Helsley,  

Henkel,  Al. 
Huff,  George. 
Huff,  H. 
Hare,  John. 
Hoofmaster,  George. 
Hill,  William. 
Johnson,  T.  D. 
Jolliffe,  John. 


498 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE 


Jones,  

Kapeharte,  

Kagey,  Joseph. 
Kagey,  Benjamin. 
Kolhenhousen,  Luther. 
Knisely,  G. 
Knisely,  H. 
Kerr,  Upsher. 
Lakin,  Charles. 
Long,  Benjamin. 
Longerbeam,  Abe. 
Longerbeam,  Charley. 
Longerbeam,  George. 
Longerbeam,  John. 
Lyon,  John  D. 
Loveday,  John. 
Lyman,  William  R. 
Lindsay,  John. 

Landon,  

Marstella,  William. 
Matheny,  Randolph. 
Magruder,  William. 
McVicar,  Charles  W. 
McWilliams,  George. 
McGuire,  William  P. 
Miller,  Cal. 
Miller,  A. 
Miller,  F.  Thomas. 
Miller,  William. 
Mosher,  Frank. 
Morrill,  Louis  D. 

Nelson,  

Noland,  L. 
Noland,  C.  C. 
Nisewander,  Abe. 
Nisewander,  George. 


Oakes,  R. 
O'Roark,  J.  C. 
O'Roark,  J. 
Purl,  - 
Pierce,  John. 
Pifer,  Jacob. 
Painter,  George. 
Powell,  P. 
Powell,  Raleigh. 
Phillips,  Reuben. 
Procter,  John. 
Procter,  Noah. 
Ramey,  W.  H. 
Rinker,  Fenton. 
Roderick,  Philip. 
Rodeffer,  John. 
Rodeffer,  Samuel. 
Rodeffer,  Theodore. 
Roberts,  Stephen. 
Roberts,  John. 
Reed,  Edward. 
Rivercomb,  H. 
Rivercomb,  W. 
Stickley,  Laban. 
Stuart,  George. 
Suddith,  Edward. 
Supinger,  Lemuel  B. 
Stuart,  John. 
Stribbling,  Frank. 
Shaffer,  Amos. 
Shaffer,  Ferd. 
Shaffer,  J. 

Taylor,  

Teawalt,  William. 
Thornton,  R.  A. 
Thornton,  J.  R. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE  499 

Thuma,  Chap.  Weymer,  John. 

Thompson,  William.  Wooton,  John  R. 

Thompson,  Pern.  B.  Wunder,  Reuben. 

Venable,  Wheeler,  - 

Vourhees,  George.  Wharton,  Isaiah. 

Wiltshire,  James  G.  Whitaker,  - 

Whitmire,  Lewis.  Wright,  James. 

Williamson,  Levi.  Wickes,  William. 

Williams,  Andy.  Wright,  S. 

Williams,  John.  Ware,  Nim.,  color-bearer. 

Williams,  John  J.  Zea,  Mart. 

Williams,  T.  Clayton.  Zirkle,  A.  P. 


NOTE. — It  is  unfortunate  that  there  is  no  record  of  the  large 
number  of  gallant  men  who  were  killed  and  wounded  in  this 
Battery. 

Every  reasonable  effort  has  been  made  to  secure  complete 
rolls  of  the  companies,  by  notice  in  the  Virginia  papers,  in  the 
Confederate  Veteran  and  by  circulars.  Notwithstanding  the 
following  rolls  are  missing:  Company  D,  of  the  Seventh;  C 
and  K,  of  the  Eleventh,  and  F  and  K,  of  the  Twelfth. 


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